Feeling lost as a Software Engineer in the age of AI. What’s next?

Hey dev community 👋

I’m a web developer, and lately, I’ve been feeling a bit stuck on where my career is heading.

Where I started vs. Where I am now

• 
  Before: My daily workflow was hands-on: writing code, reviewing PRs thoroughly, and testing features. The absolute most challenging—and interesting—part of my job was actually writing the code itself.


• 
  Now: I go into the office, skim/review PRs, test implemented logic, and spend most of my day chatting with Claude/AI tools to execute my tasks.

While AI has made me vastly more productive, it has replaced the core part of the job I used to find most fulfilling. I feel like I'm moving away from deep technical craftsmanship, and I’m honestly not sure what direction I’m heading toward or what my role will look like in the next 3–5 years.

My questions for the community:

1. 
   Skill shift: What should I focus on studying or building to ensure long-term career growth in an AI-heavy workflow?


2. 
   Role evolution: For developers in similar situations, how are you shifting your focus? (e.g., system architecture, product engineering, devops, soft skills)?


3. 
   Fulfillment: How do you stay technically sharp when AI is handling the heavy lifting for daily tickets?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, or any roadmaps you’d recommend!