Some software engineers say AI has made the job more solitary than ever (www.businessinsider.com)

Software engineers report that widespread use of large language models and coding agents is reshaping daily work: a Google Cloud report finds AI adoption among software pros at about 90%. Engineers now routinely turn to Copilot-style assistants for quick answers, code writing and reviews, which eliminates many small, impromptu troubleshooting conversations and reduces reliance on peers or managers for minor questions. Several engineers say routine meetings have shifted away from syntax-level help to deeper design reviews and architectural debate, and that AI can compress work that once took days into hours. The shift matters because it changes how teams onboard, mentor and socialize — entry-level engineers may lose casual learning moments, and workplace culture increasingly requires deliberate efforts to connect. Technically, it pushes human collaboration up the stack: agents handle implementation detail while engineers focus on system design, product trade-offs and UX. That blurs role boundaries and may boost productivity and strategic thinking, but also risks siloing teams unless companies encourage intentional mentoring and higher-level collaboration. Some industry leaders call the isolation a likely transitional phase that could yield richer, more system-level teamwork if managed well.