“There are no programmers in five years." - Emad Mostaque

magine a world where the apps you use, the games you play, and the algorithms powering your life aren’t built by armies of developers hunched over keyboards—but by AI systems that turn ideas into code with near-human intuition.

According to Emad Mostaque, founder of Stability AI (the company behind groundbreaking tools like Stable Diffusion), this future isn’t decades away. It’s already here.

In a recent conversation with futurist Peter Diamandis, Mostaque dropped a bombshell prediction: “There are no programmers in five years.”

At first glance, it sounds apocalyptic—a threat to millions of jobs. But dig deeper, and it reveals a seismic shift in how we solve problems, create value, and unlock human potential.

Consider this:

• 41% of all code on GitHub is now AI-generated.
• ChatGPT can pass a Google-level engineering exam.
• Tools like Stable Diffusion compress 100,000 gigabytes of data into a 2GB “brain” that generates images, video, and even logic.

This isn’t just about replacing coders. It’s about democratizing creation—flattening the barriers between imagination and execution.

In this blog, we unpack Mostaque’s vision for a post-programming era, where AI becomes the ultimate collaborator, and humans evolve from writing syntax to mastering strategy, ethics, and intent.

From the death of homework essays to AI teachers in Malawi, and why Hollywood should be terrified (or thrilled), this dialogue isn’t just a glimpse of the future—it’s a roadmap for thriving in the age of instant materialization.

The Conversation: Expanded & Detailed

Peter Diamandis: Emad, you’ve said, “There are no programmers in five years.” That’s a jaw-dropping claim. Walk us through how we get there.

Emad Mostaque: Let’s start with the data. Forty-one percent of all code on GitHub today is AI-generated. Tools like ChatGPT-4 can already pass a Google-level programming exam. But this isn’t just about automating grunt work—it’s about redefining what programming means.

Think of AI as the ultimate collaborator. Today, a developer might spend hours debugging or writing boilerplate code. Tomorrow, you’ll describe a problem in plain language—“Build a social app that reduces loneliness using gamification”—and the AI iterates on UI, backend logic, and testing in real time.

The human’s role shifts from writing code to orchestrating intent.

Peter: But surely we’ll still need experts to validate outputs or handle edge cases?

Emad: For now, yes. But AI is improving exponentially. GPT-4 can already debug its own code and explain its logic in plain English. In five years, AI won’t just write code—it’ll self-correct, learn from user behavior, and adapt to regulatory changes.

Imagine an AI that redesigns your app’s architecture overnight to comply with new EU data laws.

The key isn’t fighting the trend—it’s reimagining education. Why teach kids Python when they should learn to design systems or ask better questions?

The Death of “Programming” as We Know It

Peter: You mentioned Stable Diffusion compressing 100,000 gigabytes into a 2GB model. How does that relate to coding?

Emad: It’s all about latent knowledge compression. Stable Diffusion took billions of images and distilled them into a model that generates anything from “a still from a Wes Anderson film” to “a frog wearing a top hat.” Similarly, AI models like GPT-4 are compiling humanity’s coding knowledge into systems that understand intent, not just syntax.

Peter Diamandis: Emad, you made a bold statement earlier: “There are no programmers in five years.” That’s a seismic shift. Can you unpack that for us?

Emad Mostaque: Absolutely, Peter. Let’s start with the data: 41% of all code on GitHub today is AI-generated. Tools like ChatGPT can already pass programming exams at the level of a Google engineer. This isn’t incremental change—it’s a phase shift.

Peter: But programmers aren’t just writing code. They solve problems, architect systems…

Emad: True, but AI is compressing the value of traditional coding. Think about it: If an AI can turn a vague idea into a functional app in seconds, why manually write every line? The MIT study showed that mid-tier developers become 30% more efficient with AI, but top-tier engineers? They become 10x—they’re now designing how AI solves problems, not the code itself.

Peter: So programming becomes less about syntax and more about… what?

Emad: Intentionality. The skill shifts to precisely articulating outcomes—like a director guiding actors. Imagine telling an AI, “Build a social app that reduces loneliness,” and it iterates on UI, code, and testing in real time. The “programmer” becomes the strategist, not the typist.

Peter: What happens to today’s developers?

Emad: The same thing that happened to scribes when the printing press arrived. Entry-level coding jobs vanish, but new roles emerge: AI trainers, ethics auditors, “prompt architects” who mastermind AI outputs. And this isn’t hypothetical—GitHub Copilot is already in 40% of Fortune 100 workflows.

Peter: But won’t we still need experts to debug or handle edge cases?

Emad: For now, yes. But AI’s improving exponentially. GPT-4 can debug its own code. In five years, AI will self-correct and explain its logic in plain English.

The key isn’t fighting the trend—it’s reimagining education. Why teach kids Python when they should learn to orchestrate AI systems?

Peter: What’s your advice to programmers today?

Emad: Pivot up the stack. Focus on high-value creativity: designing AI-native products, understanding human behavior, or domains like quantum/BioTech where AI augments expertise. And embrace open-source models—Stability’s tools let you build personalized AI “teammates” trained on your codebase.

Peter: Final thought?

Emad: This isn’t doomsday—it’s liberation. In 1900, 80% of jobs were farming. Today, it’s 1.3%. AI is the new tractor. Programmers won’t disappear; they’ll evolve into roles we can’t yet imagine. The future belongs to those who ask better questions, not just write answers.

Hollywood’s Existential Crisis (And Opportunity)

Peter: You’ve hinted that Hollywood should be terrified. Why?

Emad: Because AI is about to do to filmmaking what Photoshop did to graphic design. Last year, two guys created a 7-minute animated short, Rock Paper Scissors, using Stable Diffusion in four days. Next year, you’ll feed a script to an AI and get a storyboard, soundtrack, and even cast digital avatars of actors.

Peter: So directors are obsolete?

Emad: No—great storytelling matters more than ever. But the gatekeepers? They’re in trouble. Why wait for a studio when your AI can render your version of Game of Thrones as a K-drama or a Bollywood epic? The creative middle class explodes, but traditional pipelines collapse.

Education’s Radical Reinvention

Peter: You’re working with Malawi to give every child an AI tutor. How?

Emad: We’re deploying tablets with localized AI models that teach math, science, and literacy in Chichewa. These AIs adapt to each kid’s learning style—auditory, visual, kinetic—and even diagnose dyslexia.

Peter: But what about cheating? Students using ChatGPT to write essays?

Emad: Homework as we know it is dead. If an AI can write an essay, why assign one? Instead, schools will focus on live, collaborative problem-solving. Imagine a history class where students debate AI-generated simulations of the Cold War—with Putin’s AI avatar arguing his side.

The Bigger Picture: Jobs, Fear, and Hope

Peter: You’ve said AI will cause more disruption than the pandemic. How do we prepare?

Emad: First, embrace open-source models. Proprietary AI (like GPT-4) is a black box—you can’t audit its biases or adapt it to your needs. At Stability, we’re building national AI models for India, Japan, and Kenya so countries own their “digital brains.”

Second, upskill strategically. The jobs of the future aren’t coding—they’re AI training, ethics auditing, and emotional design.

Peter: Final thought?

Emad: This isn’t about machines replacing humans. It’s about machines amplifying humanity. The next Einstein might be a farmer in Rwanda with an AI tutor. The next Spielberg? A teen with a laptop and a $100 AI subscription.

The future isn’t written in code. It’s written in imagination.

Why This Matters Now:

• AI is compressing time: What took years now takes minutes.
• The cost of creation is plummeting: From apps to films, democratization is inevitable.
• The stakes are global: Whoever controls AI’s evolution controls the next century.

Whether you’re a CEO, teacher, or artist, the question isn’t if AI will disrupt your field—it’s how. The answer? Lead with intent, not fear.