Boris Cherny, a leading engineer at Anthropic, has issued a stark warning about the future of internet-based jobs in the United States. According to Cherny, the rapid evolution of advanced AI agents is set to trigger a transformative shift that could disrupt countless careers.
Rapidly Evolving AI Systems
During an appearance on "Lenny's Podcast," Cherny explained that new AI systems capable of executing tasks on workplace computer tools are developing at an unprecedented pace. These technologies are poised to impact roles across the tech industry, including software engineers, product managers, and designers.
"It’s going to expand to pretty much any kind of work that you can do on a computer," Cherny stated. He emphasized that this transition won't be smooth, warning that "In the meantime, it’s going to be very disruptive. It’s going to be painful for a lot of people."
Claude Code At The Forefront
Claude Code, Anthropic’s AI coding agent, represents the cutting edge of this technological revolution. Unlike traditional chatbots, this advanced system can perform complex tasks such as running commands and building websites autonomously.
Cherny noted that productivity per engineer has already seen significant improvements since Claude Code's launch, with further advancements expected. "It’s the thing that I think brings agentic AI to people that haven’t really used it before, and people are starting to just get a sense of it for the first time," he explained.
On Y Combinator’s “Lightcone” podcast, Cherny made an even more dramatic prediction: the job title "software engineer" might disappear entirely by 2026. His advice to workers facing this transformation? Embrace AI tools, understand their functions, and "Don’t be scared of them."
Broader Workforce Implications
The potential impact of AI extends far beyond internet-based jobs. Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr has already warned that AI is beginning to displace young workers in entry-level positions, particularly in software development and customer service roles.
Nico Palesch, a senior economist at Oxford Economics, highlighted that up to 20% of the U.S. workforce could be exposed to disruptions from robotics and automation in the coming decades.
The labor market has already begun to feel these effects, with over 100,000 job cuts reported in January alone—marking the worst start to a year since 2009.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
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