This year's Leipzig Symposium on Intelligent Systems will take place on May 15-16, 2025. On day 1, you may join us either on campus or remotely (keynote only). On day 2, all events will take place completely online.
Software engineering is being reshaped by generative AI. Large language models can already automate a large part of routine coding, and with that, the value of traditional programming skills diminishes. Simultaneously, the importance of communication skills, system understanding, integration negotiations, and sound technological judgment increases. The future software engineer is less a coder; instead, they work at a higher level of abstraction. One needs to be able to frame problems, understand business value, and oversee AI-augmented development processes as a manager of AI agents and systems. The talk explores how these shifts are changing what we teach, how teams operate, and what competencies will continue to matter. An argument is made that software engineering is moving beyond syntax and toward abstraction, communication, and strategic thinking. Understanding these changes is critical for anyone involved in education, working with software, or just entering the field.