The following summary is based on the March 17, 2025, discussion on Millásreggeli, featuring Levente Szabados, associate professor at the Frankfurt School and co-founder of Neuron Solutions. Szabados shared his insights on the future of programming automation and its potential impact on the industry.
Programming as an automatable activity
The evolution of programming languages presents an intriguing paradox: while numerous new languages have emerged since the late 1960s, the fundamental process of programming has remained relatively unchanged for decades. Szabados highlighted a well-known saying among developers: “If something takes 30 minutes to complete manually, it is worth spending an hour and a half automating it.” This mindset is now being applied to programming itself, as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly capable of handling certain coding tasks.
The dual nature of programming
Szabados described programming as a language—one that AI can learn just as it does human languages. “Programming is a form of literature, except the audience is a very simple-minded entity called a computer,” he noted. Programming can be divided into two main categories: Creative, design-oriented work (typically a senior-level responsibility), comparable to planning the technical specifications of a building. Repetitive, structural work (often performed by junior developers), involving the assembly of fundamental code blocks. AI-driven automation is already proving highly effective in the latter category.
The limits and risks of automation
A key challenge is assessing the quality of AI-generated software. While verifying a historical fact is relatively straightforward, evaluating the accuracy and reliability of a program requires technical expertise. Szabados provided an example of a banking system that might function flawlessly when optimized for 10,000 clients but could fail catastrophically when required to handle 100,000. Such vulnerabilities may not be immediately apparent and could lead to significant consequences.
The transformation of the programming profession
While discussions in recent years have focused on a shortage of programmers, a new question now arises: If software can write software, will human programmers still be needed? Szabados argues that the profession is undergoing polarization—some programming roles will disappear, while others will become more valuable. Interestingly, every advancement that simplifies software development (such as more user-friendly programming languages) has historically led to increased demand for software, rather than reducing it. This “consumption paradox” suggests that as technology becomes more accessible, its usage expands.
Education and the role of junior developers
A pressing concern is how aspiring programmers can develop expertise if AI takes over junior-level tasks. Szabados believes that a new employment paradigm must emerge—one where junior developers are not primarily valued for immediate productivity but for their long-term growth into senior roles. This evolution could take place within educational institutions or corporate training programs, though the optimal approach remains uncertain.
When asked whether children should learn programming, Szabados gave an unequivocal yes. He emphasized that understanding programming logic enhances critical thinking, a skill that will be increasingly valuable in the future job market.
Security, regulation, and ethical considerations
The discussion also raised an essential question: “Who will guard the guardians?” Szabados predicts that only a small group of experts will truly understand the inner workings of AI-driven systems. When asked about the risk of these specialists misusing their knowledge, he framed it as a political issue—some advocate for strict oversight, while others favor an open-source approach. Szabados supports open-source development with limitations: “We don’t need to regulate the existence of kitchen knives, but we do need to regulate how they are used.” In other words, instead of restricting technology itself, society should establish clear guidelines for its responsible use.
Final thoughts
The automation of programming is a rapidly evolving field that has yet to fully reveal its long-term implications. Monitoring these developments will be crucial for understanding their impact on both the software industry and society at large.
Szabados’ insights offer a thought-provoking perspective on the future of programming in the age of AI. His balanced approach highlights both the opportunities and challenges of automation, particularly in terms of job polarization and education. Beyond the technical aspects, his discussion also addresses broader social and political considerations, providing a comprehensive view of a future where human-machine collaboration takes on new forms. These are essential questions to explore as the programming profession and education systems continue to evolve.
Link tot he interview: Millásreggeli podcast – pusztító körömfájásvírus, automata programozók – Millásreggeli – a gazdasági muppet show
