OpenAI Announces the End of Manual Coding: Developers Concerned

The impact of artificial intelligence on the job market continues to be felt, and even the professions considered the safest are not spared. This was suggested by Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, in a message posted on X last Tuesday. Altman expressed his gratitude towards programmers for their hard work, particularly those who wrote software "character by character." He referenced a time when manual coding was the norm, a practice he now considers to be a thing of the past.

This statement has sparked numerous reactions, as it comes at a time when layoffs are multiplying in the tech sector. AI is increasingly establishing itself as the new standard in software production, which is causing concern among developers. Despite this, the role of developer remains central at OpenAI, where it plays a crucial role in the creation and maintenance of software.

In the digital ecosystem, the developer is the cornerstone of every application, website, or online service. They design and build software, writing code to transform ideas into functional products. This work ranges from simple mobile applications to complex platforms used by millions of people. The role of the developer goes beyond coding: they analyze needs, envision technical solutions, choose the right tools, test, debug, and continuously improve. A bug, a slowdown, or a security flaw, and they must intervene quickly.

However, Sam Altman emphasized that the era of manual coding is over, which has provoked a wave of reactions. Comments have multiplied under his post, with some internet users sarcastically referring to a "reward" that consists of losing one's job. Others have been more virulent, labeling Altman as a "scoundrel" or a "psychopath." These reactions are understandable, as developers fear a rapid transition to tools capable of coding autonomously.

The rise of AI-based productivity tools reinforces this sentiment. Models like GPT-5.4 are capable of generating code, analyzing data, and even creating complex scripts. Claude Code from Anthropic is designed to automate entire enterprise software systems. Additionally, tools like Tabnine and ChatGPT plugins offer near-instant suggestions, thereby reducing the need for manual interventions.

This situation coincides with a period where generative AI is taking a central role in software creation. Curiously, as these algorithms become capable of producing clean code, announcements of job cuts are multiplying. Atlassian, for example, recently laid off 1,600 people, as reported by Barron's. Similarly, Block has drastically reduced its workforce without providing much explanation. The case of Meta is particularly striking, with estimates suggesting that nearly 20% of employees may leave, according to The Verge.

The common thread among all these announcements is the mention of gains related to intelligent automation. Executives claim that AI improves productivity and reduces the need for labor. However, this raises doubts: is it really the robots' fault that thousands of people find themselves unemployed?

Altman's announcement comes at a pivotal moment for OpenAI, which is in the midst of a show of strength to lock down the enterprise software market. Competition is fierce, particularly with Anthropic, whose latest innovations, Claude Code and Cowork, are beginning to worry investors. The idea that our traditional software could end up in a museum sooner than expected is gaining traction, and the pressure is palpable at OpenAI.

The crux of the matter goes far beyond a simple controversy. It touches on the very evolution of the programmer's profession. Writing code, long considered a key skill, is changing its status. Now, generative AI tools are taking on an increasing share of the work, transforming developers into supervisors rather than creators. This transition creates massive upheaval, as no one likes to see their expertise become a software option. The current climate clearly shows that the balance between innovation that attracts investors and the social reality on the ground is more fragile than ever.