September 24, 2026
AI is changing the programmer's craft: ThePrimeagen challenges the bruised-ego thesis
On September 23, ThePrimeagen said that AI's biggest loss is not developers' egos, but the familiar process of working with code. He wrote that many entered the profession because they loved programming.
ThePrimeagen
@theprimeagen
I see it differently. I think most people I know entered the industry because they genuinely loved writing code. Now AI is changing every part of this industry. And it is not ego that is breaking: it is the very process of the craft we were paid for and loved. But there is also plenty to be excited about. The old way of working will fade for most programmers over the years, but there is still so much that can be done. I am not someone who predicts the end of the world.
Ryan Florence @ryanflorence
Best part of AI is shattering dev's egos, the worst part of this industry. You are not special. Your code actually sucked like everybody else's. You were never the smartest person. The things my sales guy BIL and designer brother are doing is beyond anything I have done.
· 11.8K views
In ThePrimeagen's view, people once entered the profession because they loved writing code. Now AI is changing a familiar process that was both work and craft.
Two frames. Ryan Florence sees AI as a blow to developers' egos. ThePrimeagen shifts the conversation to how the work itself is changing.
ThePrimeagen believes the old way of working will fade for most programmers over the years.
