Zuckerberg's Shocking Plan: AI Will Take Over Programming at Meta
Imagine a world where machines write code instead of people—well, actually, this is no longer science fiction but a reality that Mark Zuckerberg is now taking even further. In a recent interview, the Meta CEO openly stated that within 12 to 18 months, most of the code at his company will be written by virtual agents. This means that artificial intelligence (AI) will take over the work of junior and mid-level engineers. This is not speculation—Zuckerberg said it directly in an interview with Dwarkesh Patel that was published on YouTube. And now Meta is taking its first major steps to make it happen. Let's take a detailed look at it, step by step, based on what we know from the available sources.
Zuckerberg's Statement: The End of Programming as We Know It
It began in early 2025, when Mark Zuckerberg clearly stated in an interview with Dwarkesh Patel that AI would soon take over most coding at Meta. According to him, virtual agents will write code, test it, and even handle complex tasks currently performed by humans. Zuckerberg emphasized that this does not mean programmers will disappear entirely, but rather that their roles will change. Instead of writing code, they will focus on overseeing AI, making strategic decisions, and handling the creative aspects of the work. This interview, titled "Replacing Software Engineers in 12-18 Months - Mark Zuckerberg", shows how Meta sees the future: AI as an "averagely very good person" on the team that will soon surpass even the best coders.
An article on Techzpravy.cz describes this in detail. Zuckerberg acknowledged that many programmers already copy and paste code from language models or forums such as Google during tests. Meta is therefore changing its approach to recruitment—candidates can now use AI during interviews. This is a major shift compared with other companies that prohibit AI. Zuckerberg wants new engineers to demonstrate how effectively they collaborate with AI because, in the future, they will be the ones overseeing how these systems evolve.
Meta and Its AI Tools
Meta is not just talking—it is also taking action. The company is developing models such as Llama 3.1, which is open-source and used to generate code. According to information available online, including analyses on websites such as AI Plain English and Times of India, Zuckerberg predicts that by 2026, AI will write 50% of Meta's code. Code Llama, which is part of this family, can already generate and debug code in various programming languages based on natural-language text instructions. This means that AI does not merely complete code; it takes an objective, runs tests, fixes errors, and delivers a finished product with minimal human intervention.
A related YouTube video by Matthew Berman, titled "Zuckerberg's STUNNING Statement: 'AI Will Write MOST Software Soon'", examines how these models are changing the industry. Zuckerberg claims that AI is already at the level of an average good team member and will soon surpass even top programmers. Meta is integrating these agents directly into its development processes, enabling automated testing and the creation of key interview questions. All of this points to a profound transformation: from human coding to AI-driven development.
Impact on the Industry: Not the End, but an Evolution of Roles
This trend is not limited to Meta. According to other sources, including articles on Neat Prompts and Become Irreplaceable, similar changes are also taking place at companies such as Microsoft. AI automates routine tasks, freeing people to focus on higher-level work such as design or solving complex problems. Zuckerberg's vision is not about firing programmers, but about shifting their work—from writing code to overseeing AI. Human interaction will remain important, but Meta is looking for ways to minimize it.
Nevertheless, this brings challenges. Ethics, privacy, and transparency are crucial. Companies must ensure that AI respects the rights of employees and users. Zuckerberg himself says that the key to a programmer's success at Meta will be their ability to work with AI as a collaborator.
Zuckerberg's plan reflects the rapid progress in AI. As the sources show, models such as Llama are changing how software is developed—from traditional programming to automation. Companies must adapt to remain competitive. If you are a programmer, now is the time to learn how to collaborate with AI rather than fight against it. This shift, described in the interview with Dwarkesh Patel and analyzed in an article by Karel Smělý, suggests that the era in which humans write most of the code is coming to an end. But a new era full of opportunities is just beginning. What do you think?
