- by x32x01 ||
Barclays is planning to cut around 5,000 jobs by the end of 2026. The announcement came just as the bank reported a 12% increase in third-quarter profits.
But there's one detail that developers should pay attention to: Barclays says it can now operate with fewer developers because technology and AI are making its workforce more productive.
Around 60% of the planned job cuts will affect support functions, including developer roles. The bank also confirmed that years of investment in technology have helped reduce operating costs, with AI expected to play an even bigger role in the future.
So, is AI actually taking software developers' jobs? The answer isn't as simple as yes or no.
The developers most exposed to automation are those whose work is limited to turning tickets into code without understanding the bigger picture.
That's exactly the kind of repetitive task AI tools are getting better at handling.
But developers who understand business requirements, make technical decisions, review code, test applications, manage production systems, and take responsibility for the results are much harder to replace.
The real difference isn't just knowing how to write code. It's knowing what to build, why it matters, and how to keep it running.
In October 2026:
Barclays is particularly interesting because its executives openly discussed how AI and technology investments are improving productivity and reducing the need for certain roles.
And let's be honest: AI can write code, but it won't wake up at 3 AM when your production server crashes! 😅
It belongs to people who can understand problems, make decisions, use AI effectively, build reliable systems, and take responsibility for what they create.
That's also why I'm focusing on automation and DevOps. I believe the skills surrounding software development are becoming just as important as writing the code itself.
Don't compete with AI at writing code. Learn how to use AI to become a better engineer.
If this post helped you, share it with other developers who might need to hear this. ❤️
💬 Now I'm curious: Do you think AI is a threat to your software development career, or is it an opportunity to become a better developer?
But there's one detail that developers should pay attention to: Barclays says it can now operate with fewer developers because technology and AI are making its workforce more productive.
Around 60% of the planned job cuts will affect support functions, including developer roles. The bank also confirmed that years of investment in technology have helped reduce operating costs, with AI expected to play an even bigger role in the future.
So, is AI actually taking software developers' jobs? The answer isn't as simple as yes or no.
🤖 Is AI Replacing Software Developers?
AI is changing software development, but that doesn't mean every developer is about to lose their job.The developers most exposed to automation are those whose work is limited to turning tickets into code without understanding the bigger picture.
That's exactly the kind of repetitive task AI tools are getting better at handling.
But developers who understand business requirements, make technical decisions, review code, test applications, manage production systems, and take responsibility for the results are much harder to replace.
The real difference isn't just knowing how to write code. It's knowing what to build, why it matters, and how to keep it running.
💼 What Recent Layoffs at Big Companies Tell Us
Barclays isn't the only company reducing its workforce.In October 2026:
- eBay announced plans to cut around 9% of its workforce as part of a restructuring and a shift toward its top business priorities.
- Netflix announced nearly 1,000 job cuts.
- Electronic Arts (EA) planned to eliminate around 400 positions while restructuring its studios and canceling some projects.
Barclays is particularly interesting because its executives openly discussed how AI and technology investments are improving productivity and reducing the need for certain roles.
🚀 How Developers Can Stay Valuable in the AI Era
If you're worried about your career, here's where I'd focus:1. Learn more than just coding.
Understand CI/CD, DevOps, cloud infrastructure, deployment, and monitoring. Writing code is only one part of building and maintaining software.2. Use AI tools every day.
Learn how to use AI to write, review, debug, and improve code. The developer who knows how to work effectively with AI has a real advantage.3. Understand the business behind the code.
Whether you work in banking, healthcare, or e-commerce, understanding the industry and its real problems makes you more valuable.4. Build real-world projects.
Don't rely only on certificates. Build working applications, automate real tasks, deploy projects, and show people what you can actually do.5. Develop your DevOps and automation skills.
AI can generate code, but production environments still need people who understand infrastructure, reliability, security, and incident response.And let's be honest: AI can write code, but it won't wake up at 3 AM when your production server crashes! 😅
🎯 My Take: AI Is a Challenge, but Also an Opportunity
I don't think the future belongs to developers who simply write code.It belongs to people who can understand problems, make decisions, use AI effectively, build reliable systems, and take responsibility for what they create.
That's also why I'm focusing on automation and DevOps. I believe the skills surrounding software development are becoming just as important as writing the code itself.
Don't compete with AI at writing code. Learn how to use AI to become a better engineer.
If this post helped you, share it with other developers who might need to hear this. ❤️
💬 Now I'm curious: Do you think AI is a threat to your software development career, or is it an opportunity to become a better developer?