AI, No-Code, or Hiring a Dev? Here's How to Build Software in 2025

Let's face it: The AI critics lost. In 2020, I wrote a viral article titled "Will the latest AI kill coding?" predicting that "programming jobs won't be safe in the future." Dozens of commenters came to disagree with me, with someone even going so far as to record a video "explaining why GPT-3 will not take developer jobs." Now, the tech jobs market is totally cooked, to the point that even 4.0 GPA Berkeley computer science graduates can't find jobs. Anecdotally speaking, I know some of the brightest people coming out of coding boot camps with the same results as these elite university grads (which is to say, no results).

But this article isn't about AI taking our jobs: It's about whether you should use AI to code your product, or if you should use no-code (remember that? almost seems like a bygone fad now...), or if you should still hire someone. And the answer may surprise you, especially given my earlier prediction.

The truth is, while AI has disrupted the job market and changed the landscape of software development, it hasn't entirely replaced human developers (nor will it). Instead, it's become an incredibly powerful tool that, in the hands of skilled programmers, can elevate their capabilities to superhuman levels. It's not about AI vs. humans anymore; it's about humans with AI vs. humans without it.

I recently had an eye-opening experience at a Web3 conference. I got to try out a lot of new web3 and DeFi tools, and I was curious how these tools were built, so I asked around. None of them was built via no-code or solely by AI. Not one. One team hired an AI-empowered developer who used V0 + Cursor AI, while another used a development agency, Solicy.

It became clear that these top developers weren't threatened by AI – they were embracing it. This conversation was a lightbulb moment for me. There's a crucial difference between the average developer and these cracked 10x devs – those exceptional programmers who seem to produce work at superhuman speeds. They're not just good coders; they're masters at using AI.

The Rise of the AI-Augmented Developer

So I called it. Back in 2020, I said programming jobs were on thin ice, and now look where we are. The tech job market is in shambles. But AI isn't wiping out coding jobs wholesale. It's changing the game entirely. The question isn't whether AI will code your product anymore. It's about how developers are using AI to stay relevant and actually get shit done.

The best developers now are the ones who've adapted and who see AI as a powerful tool rather than a threat. They're using it to handle the grunt work, catch errors, and generate initial code structures. But the key is they're still the ones driving the ship. They're applying their creativity and problem-solving skills on top of what AI provides.

This creates a pretty stark divide in the dev world. On one side, you've got those embracing AI and using it to work at superhuman speeds. On the other, those still trying to compete without it. And let me tell you, that gap is widening fast. So, what does this mean for you if you're looking to build something? It means you need to be smart about who you work with. The future isn't in pure AI coding or in stubbornly sticking to old methods. It's in finding developers who know how to wield AI effectively, who can take its output and shape it into something truly innovative and functional.

The AI coding revolution isn't some far-off concept anymore. It's here, it's real, and it's separating the adaptable from the obsolete. The question isn't whether AI will take over coding. It's whether you're going to get on board with the developers who are riding this wave or get left behind wondering what the hell happened.

The Future is Here, But It's Not Evenly Distributed

I'm reminded of William Gibson's famous quote: "The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed." The reality is, while some developers and companies are riding the wave of this AI revolution, others are still paddling in the shallows, unsure of how to harness this powerful new tool.

The gap between those who embrace AI and those who don't is widening rapidly. Companies like Solicy, who have fully integrated AI into their development processes, are able to deliver complex, high-quality software solutions at a pace that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. They're not just surviving in this new landscape; they're thriving, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in software development.

But here's the thing – this isn't a story of AI replacing humans. It's a story of humans evolving, adapting, and finding new ways to excel. The developers I met weren't threatened by AI; they were excited by it. They saw it as a tool that allowed them to focus on the aspects of their work that they truly loved – solving complex problems, creating elegant solutions, and pushing the boundaries of technology.

As we stand on the brink of this new era, the question isn't whether AI will take our jobs. The question is: How will we rise to meet the challenge and opportunity that AI presents? Will we cling to old ways of working, or will we embrace this new tool and use it to augment our own capabilities?

The future belongs to those who can see AI not as a threat but as a partner in creation. It belongs to the developers who can harness the power of machine learning and combine it with human creativity and insight. It belongs to companies like Solicy, who are showing us what's possible when we stop fearing AI and start collaborating with it.

So, to answer the question I posed at the beginning of this article – should you use AI to code your product or stick with traditional development methods? The answer is neither. The real path forward is to find developers who understand how to leverage AI as a tool and can use it to augment their own skills and create solutions that are greater than the sum of their parts.

The AI revolution isn't coming – it's already here. And it's not killing coding jobs; it's transforming them, elevating them, and opening up new possibilities that we're only beginning to explore. The future of software development is bright, exciting, and full of potential. All we need to do is embrace it.