Are You 'Agentic' Enough for the AI Era?

"Today's agents might already be more capable than all three of us here in the room. Taste is something we think is pretty unique to Notion, but you can imagine agents getting pretty good at that too. Eventually, the only thing left for humans is agency."

"The tech industry is grappling with a very real shift in how software engineers do their jobs. Millions of developers are using AI coding agents like Claude Code and Codex to automate much of their work. For many, a massive piece of their value is now tied to deciding what AI coding agents should work on."

"Simon Last, another Notion cofounder, uses AI coding agents more than anyone I've ever met. He coded for nearly two decades-then abruptly stopped. Now, he's using up to four AI coding agents at any given time."

Silicon Valley has traditionally valued high-agency individuals who think independently and take action. As AI coding tools advance significantly, the industry is redefining agency around directing artificial intelligence rather than performing technical work directly. Developers now use AI coding agents like Claude Code and Codex to automate substantial portions of their work, with some companies requiring their use. This represents a fundamental shift in how software engineers derive value—moving from hands-on coding to strategic decision-making about what AI agents should accomplish. While this transition unsettles some developers who enjoyed writing code, industry leaders view it as an opportunity. The concept of agency is evolving to mean something different in an AI-augmented workplace.

Read at WIRED