The great gamble, and why vibe coding will (probably) never be a thing

The Future of AI and the Value of Skill Development: Why Vibe Coding Might Never Be a Reality

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, many individuals, especially the youth, face a significant question: Should we invest time learning new skills? With the rise of artificial intelligence, the stakes seem higher than ever. But is there truly a way to be “AI-proof,” or is that a misguided pursuit?

Navigating the Uncertainty: A Simple Matrix

Imagine a basic decision-making table:

| | AI Accelerates | AI Decelerates/Stalls |
|—————-|———————|—————————|
| Learn a Skill | Your efforts might seem wasted now, but long-term, you’re building valuable assets | Your new skills remain relevant and may be augmented by AI |
| Do Nothing | Wasting your time and falling behind | Missed opportunity; you remain unprepared for the future |

The key takeaway: investing in learning—whether coding, writing, or art—is generally the most pragmatic choice. Even if AI advances rapidly, developing a skill set allows you to produce tangible work, create projects, and stay relevant. In the best-case scenario, AI enhances your abilities, making you more efficient. Worst-case, you risk falling into obsolescence, but at least you won’t have wasted time building nothing.

Why “Vibe Coding” Might Never Materialize

Some advocates talk about “vibe coding”—a laid-back, no-pressure approach where humans merely “vibe” while AI takes care of the complex tasks. I believe this concept is unlikely to become a sustainable reality—not because AI won’t grow smarter, but because the level of AI that’s both sufficiently capable and still requires human oversight may never align.

In other words, if AI becomes too advanced, it will likely handle complex projects on its own, leaving little room for humans to just “vibe” and watch from the sidelines. Conversely, if AI remains less capable, it won’t serve as a reliable partner in complex creative or technical endeavors. Learning to prompt AI without understanding the fundamentals of your domain may be pointless—imagine trying to “vibe” your way through a job you don’t understand.

The Road Ahead: Uncertainty and Preparation

The future remains unpredictable. Some believe AI will slow down due to technical or societal limitations; others think we are on the brink of discovering Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), capable of human