AI to reshape developer roles, skills & teams by 2026 survey finds
New research involving more than 500 senior developers reveals that artificial intelligence is set to significantly reshape software development roles by 2026. The findings point to a sector in transition, with expectations for leaner teams, more strategic responsibilities, and changing skillsets across the industry.
Redefining roles
The survey found that 65% of senior developers believe their roles will be redefined by 2026. Among those, 74% expect to move from hands-on coding towards designing technical solutions, and 50% anticipate an increased focus on strategy and architecture. In addition, 61% plan to integrate AI-generated code into their daily workflows as the technology continues to mature.
Automation is also expected to have a significant impact on team size. Fifty-eight percent of respondents predict that automation will reduce the need for entry-level tasks, leading to smaller and more streamlined teams.
Skills and specialisation
The research highlights a shift in the type of skills required for developers to stay competitive. Fifty-one percent warned that developers without AI expertise risk being left behind, while 63% foresee a demand for greater training in AI, cloud, and cybersecurity skills. Project managers identified AI and machine learning specialisations as the most significant upcoming talent gap, followed by prompt engineering and data engineering.
Developers expect roles in AI and machine learning (67%), data analytics (46%), and cybersecurity (45%) to witness the most significant growth across the sector in 2026.
Changing workflows
Integration of AI tools into development processes is already well underway. Ninety-two percent of developers reported using AI-assisted coding to save time, averaging 7.3 hours per week in time savings. Seventy-four percent stated that AI has already strengthened their technical skills, and half reported an improvement in work-life balance over the past year. However, developers remain cautious about the current reliability of AI-generated code, with 56% describing it as "somewhat reliable" and just 9% saying they would implement it without human oversight.
"At the start of the year, many asked how AI would change developers' roles. It's clear now: developers are the first professionals to reinvent their jobs in real time. They're using AI to boost productivity, learn faster, and drive innovation. What's happening in software today will soon happen across every knowledge industry: people will think bigger, break old limits, and redefine what productivity means," said Nacho De Marco, CEO and Co-Founder, BairesDev
Career opportunities
Developers indicated that AI continues to create new avenues for career progression. Thirty-seven percent said AI has already expanded their career opportunities, and 63% expect entirely new types of job roles to emerge as AI becomes more embedded in software delivery. Senior developers described increased project delivery speed and shorter time-to-market as key operational benefits of AI, with many saving nearly one working day each week through automation.
The outlook for junior roles appears less clear. While 24% predict such positions will require more analytical and AI-assisted skills, another 24% expect growth driven by new products and markets, and 19% forecast a contraction in traditional entry-level openings as automation becomes more widespread.
Ongoing human oversight
Despite these changes, most developers reported that their core activities still involve writing code, troubleshooting, and documentation. Only 19% said they primarily focus on creative problem-solving, though this is expected to rise as routine tasks are further automated by AI.
Developers believe human oversight will remain central to managing AI-powered workflows, ensuring quality, accuracy, and security in software delivery.
