AI Won't Kill IT Jobs, But It Will Force Them to Evolve

Tech commentator Serguey Shinder argues that IT jobs have historically survived automation waves not by disappearing, but by shifting to higher-level responsibilities. When cloud computing replaced physical servers, infrastructure professionals moved into system design, security, and cost management rather than hardware maintenance. Shinder contends that AI will similarly absorb routine tasks like scripting and boilerplate troubleshooting, but cannot replace human judgment, accountability, and organizational understanding. He warns that workers who define themselves by specific tasks risk obsolescence, while those focused on the broader problem they solve will adapt successfully. His core advice to IT professionals is to stop defending current tasks and instead develop expertise at the next layer up the stack.