'Vibe coding': When AI begins writing software instead of humans.

For most ordinary users, the mention of artificial intelligence (AI) immediately brings to mind familiar chatbots like ChatGPT , Google Gemini , or Claude . Typically, users simply type a question and receive an answer almost instantly.

 

However, the first few months of 2026 are witnessing a new shift in AI. In the tech world, more and more people are talking about the concept of 'vibe coding' – writing software by describing requirements to AI instead of directly programming.

Many tools supporting this trend have now emerged, such as Anthropic 's Claude Code , OpenAI 's Codex , and Google 's Gemini Code .

A writer for The New York Times once shared his experience using Claude Code. He simply entered a request: retrieve data from recently uploaded files, put it into a database, and then build a web interface that allows searching for information within it. Not stopping there, he also asked the AI ​​to add a small game and a music player running on the same website.

 

Remarkably, Claude Code not only finished writing the application but also personally tested it, checked for errors, and adjusted the functions until the system was stable. The entire process took place in a very short time.

In another experiment, a tech reporter used Claude Code to create a personal website. The AI ​​automatically collected information about him on the internet, including images and audio, to build content for the site. He had previously tried taking pictures of food in his refrigerator and asking the AI ​​to suggest dishes he could cook using the available ingredients.

In fact, Anthropic introduced Claude Code in May 2025. However, it wasn't until early 2026 that the tool began to be widely used by the tech community and gradually spread to general users.

This development has led many to begin talking about a scenario previously considered unbelievable: hundreds of millions, even billions, of people being able to create software without knowing how to program.

 

When AI threatens the traditional software industry

The explosion of AI-powered coding tools has also had a significant impact on the technology market. One of the clearest signs is the sharp drop in the stock prices of many software development companies. The Nasdaq-100 index is estimated to have lost around $500 billion in value in just two days.

The reason is quite simple. Previously, if a law firm needed software to search for case law related to certain keywords, they would typically hire a software company to build the system. The development process could take several months, including writing code, testing, and finalizing the product.

 

But with tools like Claude Code, law firms can easily commission AI to perform similar tasks and receive results within hours. This means many software development contracts are at risk of disappearing.

Similar situations can occur in many other fields such as banking, finance, marketing, or research. For example, a law firm might assign an 'AI agent' the task of reviewing legal contracts to identify potentially contentious clauses in the future.

Low cost and high speed – the advantages of AI.

Of course, AI-generated software is still relatively simple compared to the complex systems developed by humans. However, AI possesses two major advantages: low cost and rapid deployment speed .

According to a New York Times technology reporter, designing a typical website can cost around $25,000. If it requires handling large amounts of data, reorganizing databases, and building a visually engaging user interface, the cost could rise to $350,000.

Meanwhile, Claude Code's service currently costs only about $20–200 per month for a subscription , and the AI ​​can work continuously for virtually unlimited time.

Many people are skeptical of AI-generated products, such as memes, polished but emotionless text, or deepfake videos. But with software, the evaluation criteria are quite simple: does the program run correctly and meet the requirements?

Therefore, many experts believe that applications created using 'vibe coding' could soon flood the market and put significant pressure on traditional programming.

 

The role of a programmer will change.

In the near future, technology companies are expected to continue improving vibe coding tools to make them easier to use for people without a programming background.

The latest paid version of Claude Code was designed for users outside the tech industry, while OpenAI's new Codex is touted as being able to help users perform computer tasks like a technical expert.

Technology expert Salvatore Sanfilippo argues that in the new context, it may gradually become unnecessary for programmers to write the entire source code for a project themselves.

According to him, the role of programmers will shift to defining product ideas, designing functionality and user experience, while the heaviest part – writing code – can be handed over to AI.

Sanfilippo said that projects that previously took him weeks to complete can now be generated by AI in just a few hours. According to him, those who can adapt and continue to succeed in the AI ​​era will be those who know how to think of tasks to delegate to AI .