Anthropic Engineer Warns AI Agents Will Transform Computer Jobs Very Soon: 'It's Going To Be Painful'

Top Anthropic Engineer Warns Of Major Job Shifts Very Soon: 'It's Going To Be Painful'

Boris Cherny, a leading engineer at Anthropic, has predicted a transformative shift in internet-based jobs across the United States due to the rise of advanced AI agents. Rapidly Evolving AI Systems During an appearance on "Lenny's Podcast," Cherny said that the new AI systems, capable of executing tasks on workplace computer tools, are rapidly evolving. These developments could soon impact roles such as 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 said. He warned that this shift might be disruptive and challenging for many. "In the meantime, it's going to be very disruptive. It's going to be painful for a lot of people," he added. Claude Code At The Forefront Claude Code, Anthropic's AI coding agent, is at the forefront of this change. Unlike traditional chatbots, it can perform complex tasks like running commands and building websites. Cherny noted that productivity per engineer has significantly increased since Claude Code's launch, and he expects further advancements. "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 said. On Y Combinator's "Lightcone" podcast, Cherny suggested that the job title "software engineer" might disappear by 2026. He advised workers to embrace AI tools and understand their functions, urging, "Don't be scared of them." AI Beginning To Displace Young Workers, Says Fed's Barr The potential impact of AI on the workforce is not limited to 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 felt the impact, with over 100,000 job cuts in January, 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 Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

AI agents will transform every computer-based job, warns Anthropic engineer

'In the meantime, it's going to be very disruptive. It's going to be painful for a lot of people.' A senior engineer from Anthropic believes a new wave of AI agents that can actively use computers is set to change how most internet-based jobs are done, and the shift could happen sooner than expected. Speaking in a recent conversation on Lenny's Podcast, Claude Code creator Boris Cherny explained that AI is moving beyond chat-style assistants into systems that can actually perform tasks across workplace software. Unlike traditional AI chatbots that mainly generate text or images, these newer AI agents can take actions. They can run commands, study files, communicate through apps, and complete workflows across multiple tools- similar to how a human employee would operate a computer during a normal workday. Also read: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra leaks in early hands-on, shows privacy display and more 'It's going to expand to pretty much any kind of work that you can do on a computer,' Cherny said. 'In the meantime, it's going to be very disruptive. It's going to be painful for a lot of people.' Anthropic's own coding-focused AI system is designed around this idea. However, the company recently said that the technology is still not as capable as an experienced human. '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 said. Inside Anthropic, the impact is already visible. Cherny shared that his own engineering teams are completing more work in less time by relying on AI, leading to a noticeable rise in productivity. Also read: Nothing Phone 4a Pro and Phone 4a India launch next month: Check expected specs and price In another discussion with Y Combinator's Lightcone podcast, Cherny suggested that the traditional title of a software engineer could begin to fade as early as 2026. For professionals worried about the change, his advice is simple: start learning and experimenting now. 'Don't be scared of them,' he said.