What developers need to know as AI coding agents reshape software engineering

As coding agents transform the software development landscape, the question of how professional skills must evolve becomes increasingly urgent. A new research effort sought to answer this by bringing together academics and industry experts to chart the future of the field.

The research approach#

Two roundtable discussions held in 2026 in New York and Singapore brought together researchers and practitioners to explore how agentic AI is reshaping software engineering roles. The findings distill observations from these conversations into guidance on what competencies will matter most as development practices change.

Verification becomes critical#

A central insight from the discussions is that verification and validation are rising in importance as implementation work shifts toward automated agents. When code generation is handled by AI systems, the ability to scrutinize, test, and validate that output becomes a cornerstone of professional practice. Real-world examples shared at the events underscored how this shift fundamentally alters what developers spend their time doing.

Implications for education#

The research identifies a set of core skills that future software engineers will need to develop. These findings point to necessary changes in how the profession should be trained and educated in the coming years—moving beyond traditional coding emphasis toward capabilities that complement and oversee AI-driven development.