"Vibe coding" simplifies software creation with AI tools

A new trend called "vibe coding" is gaining attention in Silicon Valley. This concept suggests that anyone, even those with no programming experience, can create websites and applications using simple language in chat tools like ChatGPT. Andrej Karpathy, a co-founder of OpenAI, described it as working without thinking much about the actual code involved. He mentioned that you can just say what you want and make it happen. The idea became popular after a New York Times columnist, Kevin Roose, shared his experiences of building projects without technical skills. He emphasized that having an idea and some patience is often enough. Generative AI tools can now create coding automatically based on user's requests. Other platforms have emerged recently, including Gemini and Cursor. Experts believe this could change how software is made and who can create it. Mattheo Cellini, an online marketing specialist, noted it might not eliminate coding jobs but could alter how developers operate. However, job losses in the tech sector, with nearly 10,000 positions cut in February alone, raise concerns about future opportunities. Despite the allure of vibe coding, many new users face difficulties. Nikola Banovic, a computer science professor, pointed out that those without programming knowledge often struggle to use these AI models. Users report that creating effective apps isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Claude Rubinson, a sociology professor, noted that without understanding the generated code, it's hard to navigate and produce functional applications. Banovic also highlighted the importance of being able to craft the right request, or “prompt,” to get the desired output from the AI. He warned that without some technical understanding, everyday users might not know how to make the most of these tools.