Christian Klein, CEO of SAP, stated that advances in artificial intelligence, specifically in “vibe coding,” could lead to the elimination of human software developers at the company within four years. This remark marks a significant shift from Klein’s previous comments regarding the role of AI in coding.
In January 2025, Klein indicated that “80% of coding will be done in the future by AI-powered coding tools,” while asserting that the role of software developers would evolve rather than disappear. By April 2026, he informed Morgan Stanley that future developers at SAP would focus more on constructing cohesive data layers and reimagining business processes rather than on traditional coding methods.
SAP’s CFO, Dominik Asam, set the stage for these remarks in September 2025, stating that “for the same volume of output we can afford to have fewer people” and estimating that 60 to 70 percent of jobs at SAP could eventually transition to digital formats. This clarity comes amid a broader trend of accelerating AI adoption across the software sector.
Notably, senior engineers at Spotify have reportedly not written any code since December, with Anthropic using AI for 70 to 90 percent of its coding tasks. Google has claimed that AI agents are responsible for producing over half of its internal code, a figure that a senior Google product manager noted has since increased significantly.
This transformation is impacting workers beyond traditional coding roles. A report from Business Insider highlighted that tech workers are investing 10 to 20 unpaid hours weekly experimenting with AI tools to enhance their employability. Additionally, an Ernst & Young survey found that 85 percent of over 1,000 U.S. desk workers are learning AI skills outside the workplace. One engineer observed that AI has allowed him to accomplish in days what previously took months.
However, the shift to AI is not without challenges. An Amazon data scientist noted that the creation of AI automation systems has resulted in longer work hours, while another employee remarked that any time saved is often redirected toward subsequent projects. SAP acknowledged that its developers’ productivity has risen by more than 30 percent due to tools like Claude Code and GitHub Copilot.
SAP employs over 30,000 developers and has indicated that staffing reductions will be part of its five-year efficiency strategy. While the accuracy of Klein’s four-year timeline remains uncertain, he has delivered a clear message to both his workforce and the broader software industry.
