Adopt AI or risk becoming obsolete: GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke

GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke has urged developers worldwide to adopt artificial intelligence tools or risk becoming obsolete, in a strong message reflecting the shifting landscape of software development.

His comments come amid accelerating integration of generative AI tools like GitHub Copilot into mainstream programming workflows.

A new era of AI-assisted coding

Dohmke’s comments were shared in a recent blog post titled “Developers, Reinvented”, where he presented findings from GitHub's survey of 22 developers who regularly use AI coding assistants.

According to the post, developers who leverage AI spend less time writing repetitive code and more time on creative, high-impact tasks such as architecture design and problem-solving.

GitHub Copilot, powered by OpenAI’s Codex model, has already seen widespread adoption since its 2021 launch.

As of 2025, more than 1.8 million developers reportedly use Copilot daily, across enterprises and individual users. Dohmke noted that embracing AI is now essential for remaining competitive in the software industry.

“The developer of the future is not a code-typist. They are the creative director of code,” he wrote.

AI may automate 90% of coding in future

Dohmke cited research indicating that up to 90% of code writing could be automated by AI tools within the next five years.

While traditional programming knowledge remains valuable, he argued that developers must shift their focus toward prompt engineering, quality control, system design, and AI-assisted workflows.

GitHub’s data also revealed that AI tools reduce time-to-commit and increase developer satisfaction.

However, the report acknowledged that concerns remain about accuracy, hallucinations, and over-reliance on automation—issues that GitHub and OpenAI continue to address through updates and safety layers.

Changing expectations in developer education

The growing importance of AI has also prompted discussions around changes in computer science education.

Dohmke encouraged universities and bootcamps to teach students how to collaborate with AI tools, rather than compete with them.

The aim, he said, should be to produce “AI-native developers” equipped for real-world demands.

GitHub has launched several initiatives to promote responsible AI use, including open-source projects, ethical coding guidelines, and transparency in AI-generated code attribution.