Intent Over Syntax: Programming Literacy in the Age of AI

As generative AI removes syntax as a barrier to entry, programming transforms from a specialized skill into basic literacy—comparable to reading and writing. The competitive advantage shifts from syntax mastery to clear intent articulation and stakeholder alignment, fundamentally challenging how tech skills are gatekept. This democratization promises to resurrect programming as a hobbyist medium while undermining the profit-driven model that currently dominates software development.