Former Google distinguished engineer says AI isn't replacing software engineers — just ones who only know how to code

• Kelsey Hightower emphasizes the importance of diverse skills beyond coding in software engineering.
• Hightower said that AI separates those who can only code and those who can make good decisions.
• There is growing sentiment that taste, communication and relationship-building are AI-proof skills.

Hightower told Orosz later in the interview that software engineering is increasingly evolving into a discipline of making decisions, where “writing is thinking.”

“If you’re a full-stack engineer, you’re probably like, man, there’s so much more than just writing code,” he said, adding that he loves “Claude because now I can focus on those things, and I can use these tools instead.”