How AI Is Redefining Software Engineering with Annie Vella, Distinguished Engineer
December 3, 2025
“Many of us became software engineers because we found our identity in building things. Not managing things. Not overseeing things. Building things. With our own hands, our own minds, our own code.But that identity is being challenged,” wrote Annie in March 2025 in her blog post, The Software Engineering Identity Crisis, which has since been read by tens of thousands of engineers and got them thinking about this (re)defining moment in what their role means.
In this conversation, Annie dives deep into the software engineer’s identity crisis, the rise of AI agents, and how engineers can prepare for a rapidly evolving future.
Source: How AI Is Redefining Software Engineering with Annie Vella, Distinguished Engineer | Aviator
When Annie Vella’s article first came out, we referenced it here, and it’s since been very widely read by software engineers everywhere. In this conversation, Annie explores these ideas more deeply.
