As the global workforce continues to grapple with fears of job loss in the age of artificial intelligence, GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke is offering a reassuring and compelling perspective: AI is not here to replace developers — it's here to supercharge them.
In a recent podcast interview, Dohmke made it clear that companies with a smart vision for the future will not be slashing tech jobs, but rather expanding their engineering teams to take full advantage of AI’s power. “The companies that are the smartest are going to hire more developers,” he said. “Because if you 10x a single developer, then 10 developers can do 100x.” His arithmetic is simple — and optimistic: artificial intelligence is not a subtractive force, but a multiplier.
He debunked the growing myth that AI alone can spawn billion-dollar businesses without human coding knowledge. “The idea that AI without any coding skills lets you just build a billion-dollar business is mistaken,” Dohmke said. “Because if that were the case, everyone would do it.” His message: AI is a remarkable tool, not a magic wand.
He sees the current wave of layoffs and hiring freezes across the tech industry as temporary — a brief pause while companies recalibrate for the coming AI-powered surge.
As the head of GitHub, a platform at the heart of modern software development, Dohmke’s words carry weight. His vision offers comfort for developers worried about obsolescence and sets a tone for a future in which man and machine work not in opposition, but in powerful, exponential collaboration.
In a recent podcast interview, Dohmke made it clear that companies with a smart vision for the future will not be slashing tech jobs, but rather expanding their engineering teams to take full advantage of AI’s power. “The companies that are the smartest are going to hire more developers,” he said. “Because if you 10x a single developer, then 10 developers can do 100x.” His arithmetic is simple — and optimistic: artificial intelligence is not a subtractive force, but a multiplier.
AI Will Not Replace You, It Will Amplify You
According to Dohmke, AI tools like GitHub Copilot are creating a sea change in how developers work. They’re reducing grunt work, helping engineers prototype faster, and allowing more creative room for solving complex problems. But despite this automation, Dohmke emphasized that technical expertise remains irreplaceable.He debunked the growing myth that AI alone can spawn billion-dollar businesses without human coding knowledge. “The idea that AI without any coding skills lets you just build a billion-dollar business is mistaken,” Dohmke said. “Because if that were the case, everyone would do it.” His message: AI is a remarkable tool, not a magic wand.
More AI, More Work
Interestingly, rather than decreasing workload, AI is generating even more. By increasing the speed and capability of development teams, AI allows businesses to chase more ambitious goals that were previously sidelined due to complexity or time constraints. This hasn’t led to empty chairs in engineering departments — quite the opposite. Dohmke noted that developer backlogs haven’t disappeared. Instead, AI has unlocked the capacity to do more, not less.He sees the current wave of layoffs and hiring freezes across the tech industry as temporary — a brief pause while companies recalibrate for the coming AI-powered surge.
A Golden Age for Coders
Calling this the “most exciting time” to be a developer, Dohmke described how AI is finally making it possible to turn casual Sunday morning ideas into working mobile apps by Sunday night — a long-standing dream for many in tech. It’s a world where AI assists in translating creativity into reality faster, but doesn’t eliminate the need for the human behind the machine.As the head of GitHub, a platform at the heart of modern software development, Dohmke’s words carry weight. His vision offers comfort for developers worried about obsolescence and sets a tone for a future in which man and machine work not in opposition, but in powerful, exponential collaboration.
