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Founders’ takes is a new series featuring expert insights from tech leaders transforming industries with artificial intelligence. In this edition, Steven Kleinveld, founder of applied AI lab Skylark, argues that no-code and “vibe coding” won’t replace developers—they’ll upgrade them.
There’s been a lot of talk that AI is going to replace developers. With the rise of tools allowing you to prompt your way into building apps, people are wondering: “Are developers even still needed?” The short answer: yes—more than ever.
The hype around no-code and “vibe coding” makes it seem like anyone can build a solid MVP overnight. Tools like Lovable, Bolt, and Canva Code are great for testing ideas quickly. But once things get more complex, these tools hit a ceiling…
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You still need someone who knows how things actually work—backend logic, data flows, design systems, UX decisions. The stuff that makes a product good, not just functional. That’s where developers come in—and not just any developers, but those who know how to work with AI, not fear it.
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This isn’t the end of developers. It’s a shift in how they work. LLMs like Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT have drastically improved, making AI tooling better. As a result, developers can work with superhuman efficiency, thus becoming more valuable. This moment isn’t about replacing developers; it’s about their evolution.
Developers who use AI will replace those who don’t
AIs are amazing at handling repetitive tasks—generating code snippets, filling in boilerplate, even giving you a head start on the frontend. But they can’t build a reliable, secure, and scalable product from scratch.
As CEO of Skylark, an applied AI lab, I’m aware of how fast the field is evolving. It will still be years before models master all three elements without a human in the loop.
Developers who get AI get supercharged
The real winners are developers who know how to work with it. If you’re a backend developer, AI can help with frontend tasks. If you’re full-stack, it can speed up your workflow and focus on tricky parts you enjoy most. It’s like having a really fast assistant—but you still need to steer the ship.
The key is knowing what you’re good at, where you’re not, and how AI can fill in gaps. That’s what makes a developer “AI-savvy.” And that’s becoming one of the most valuable skills out there.
Vibe coding is fun but won’t take you all the way
We’ve seen prompting an AI to “just build this” and hoping it works. It’s fast, playful, sometimes surprisingly good—but can also lead to ‘AI drift’: when your product slowly shifts away from your original idea because the AI adds unnecessary features or misinterprets what you want.
Experienced developers make a difference. They know when something’s off, stop the AI and fix it, spot bugs or security issues the AI missed. Non-technical folks often miss these signs—and that’s where things can break fast.
No, AI isn’t replacing developers. It’s giving the best ones extra gear.
Not every founder will be technical, but even non-tech founders need to understand how AI works and its limits. Knowing how to prompt an AI is one thing; knowing when output is wrong is a whole other skill.
Bottom line: AI is a tool, not a replacement
Developers who learn how to work with AI will only become more valuable. They’ll build faster, smarter, and with fewer people but still drive the process.
So if you’re a developer wondering if AI is coming for your job, I’d say: don’t worry. Just get familiar with the tools, stay sharp on your skills, and figure out how AI can make you better.
This isn’t the end of the road—it’s a new chapter. And developers are still very much the main characters.
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