Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the information technology (IT) sector. The world’s largest companies have announced layoffs affecting tens of thousands of programmers. Several Lithuanian companies have also reported reductions in their IT workforce. Does this mean that AI will replace what was until recently considered one of the most promising and highly paid professions? Experts agree: it is not the demand for programmers that is changing, but rather their role, responsibilities, and required skills.
The market is slowing down — but only temporarily
Aurimas Cholomskis, Head of Department at the applied AI and advanced engineering company Twoday, says he is constantly looking for IT specialists because the company is growing, although he acknowledges that AI is significantly reshaping the labor market. Tools such as Codex and Claude Code allow code to be generated quickly, so employers are increasingly focusing not only on employees’ technical foundations and ability to solve complex problems, but also on their ability to use AI tools effectively in daily work.
„Economic uncertainty is also contributing to these changes. At the moment, demand for IT specialists is lower than it was a few years ago, but in the long term another problem may arise — there could be a shortage of experienced specialists. If fewer beginners enter the market today, in several years this may turn into a deficit of experienced engineers,“ says A. Cholomskis.
According to him, students and young professionals who manage to establish themselves in the market today and learn how to work effectively with AI will have a unique advantage in the future.
Those who adapt to change will succeed
The nature of IT specialists’ work is also changing. Programmers are writing code themselves less frequently — their focus is shifting toward managing AI tools and ensuring the quality of results.
„AI can help achieve more, but responsibility still lies with humans — ensuring that the result is correct, safe, and meaningful,“ says A. Cholomskis.
The pace of learning is also accelerating — technologies and methodologies are changing almost every week, so the ability to continuously learn is becoming more important than expertise in a single technology.
The expert also highlights the growing demand for data engineers. The quality of AI solutions directly depends on data infrastructure, making specialists in this field increasingly important. In addition, the boundaries between different programming technologies are disappearing — versatility and adaptability are becoming more highly valued.
Companies are not lowering their expectations
Martynas Kulvietis, Head of the Lithuanian branch of the software development company Trimble Reality Capture Platform, notes that demand for IT specialists is not decreasing.
„We are hiring just as before. The number of projects is not shrinking; only expectations for programmers are increasing, both in terms of quality and productivity. The biggest challenge is how to manage the quality of AI-generated code, while also continuously improving skills related to rapidly evolving AI applications.
AI automates various processes, and we try to implement and use it everywhere: for coding, file administration, translations, and document completion. AI helps automate or accelerate work. Figuratively speaking, we are replacing a shovel with a tractor — or even several tractors at once. Modern IT engineers must move from the shovel to the tractor and learn to use it effectively,“ says M. Kulvietis.
Universities are also adapting to the changes
Higher education institutions are also having to adapt. Computer science studies are increasingly focusing not only on programming, but also on AI, data engineering, ethics, and collaboration between humans and AI.
Professor Dalius Mažeika, Dean of the Faculty of Fundamental Sciences at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, notes that the most important thing today is developing strong foundational knowledge so future IT specialists understand algorithms, data structures, system design, cybersecurity, and possess logical thinking skills.
Dalius Mažeika
„AI can write a function, but it cannot replace a person who understands why that function is needed. This means programmers spend less time on mechanical coding and more on architecture, business logic, and decision-making. A programmer is becoming an engineer rather than simply a code writer. The ability to understand systems, analyze problems, and evaluate AI-generated code is becoming increasingly important.
AI is excellent at generating, but it does not take responsibility. And in business, responsibility is essential,“ emphasizes the professor.
The future programmer — a versatile creator
According to D. Mažeika, future IT specialists will need to be not only programmers, but also architects, business analysts, and product creators.
The most important skills will become:
- problem-solving,
- critical thinking,
- systems integration,
- communication with teams and businesses.
Experts agree that AI will not eliminate programmers, but rather change the nature of their work. Just as calculators did not eliminate mathematicians, AI will raise the bar for all IT specialists — those who survive and thrive will be the ones who can adapt, learn continuously, and create greater value.
