Why they'll still hire you even when AI builds everything

Why Hire Me

If it’s easier to build things with AI, why would someone hire me to build something for them? I work as a software developer and a freelancer, and I’ve been using AI for a while now, not just for software development but also for creating content. For example, these videos are recorded by me, edited by AI, and I repurpose them on Instagram. So AI already helps me produce content.

From Front‑End to Full Stack

In the past I focused mainly on front‑end development because that’s where most of my experience was. Over time I gained more experience, and only last year did I start working as a full‑stack developer, still with a front‑end mindset. Building a website is now a lot easier, so why would someone hire me when they could use something like ChatGPT to build a site themselves? AI can create something faster and cheaper, which could increase competition.

Competition and Fear

More people will start building websites, but many will feel stuck and fear AI. Developers like me might be caught in that fear, while I can use AI as a tool to get better results. The key is to combine AI with my own expertise.

Client Deployment Example

A few weeks ago a client created a landing page on Cloud, but she couldn’t deploy it. She only had the HTML and didn’t know how to put it on a server. She paid me to deploy it, so I still had work to do. Her page was simple, a basic landing page, but it illustrates that AI alone won’t deliver results above average if the person asking doesn’t know how to build or deploy the site themselves. Skilled workers can deliver higher‑quality websites faster because we understand not just how to create a site, but what makes a good site. That taste for quality comes from experience.

Optimizing with AI

This afternoon I was building a script to visualize the speed of a page I created. The latest Cloud Opus 4.8 had trouble improving the metrics because it didn’t know how to raise the scores. I know how to optimize a website, so I gave the AI directions and corrected its mistakes. The page’s speed score jumped from 60 to 98. The tool was the same, but my knowledge produced a much better result.

Non‑Tech Clients

Many business owners already have a lot on their plates, and their time is often worth more than the money they would pay me. There are still people who don’t use spreadsheets, let alone code or digital marketing. That doesn’t mean they aren’t smart or successful; they’re just good at their own jobs. My role is to be good at what they’re not good at.

Farm Invoicing System

A few months ago I worked on a project for a farm. I built a system to track invoices, payments, and documents. I don’t know how to plant crops, and the farmer didn’t know how to program. They were tracking millions of dollars in expenses on paper. I created a digital system for them. Working with people who aren’t tech‑savvy is where I add value, and AI makes that work even easier. As more people discover what technology can do through AI, it will help me in the long term, as long as I keep putting in the effort to stay above average and remain a skilled worker.