I think that the true nature of what Carmack is alluding to here is that true Value, even in the domain of software engineering, is usually attained by the application of critical thinking. The notion that a person who knows how to form correct syntax is equally as productive as someone who understands the problem a business or user faces and can come up with a working technical solution to that problem does not stand up to scrutiny. Its like saying someone who knows how to wield a pencil is equally as capable as Tolstoy in the discipline of writing. An LLM that can code is the same but the pencil wielder will be exposed as one who adds no value and Tolstoy will become even more powerful.

I predict that the real and more radical problem than some Stack Overflow Copiers losing some marketability is when Product and Management start buying the idea that the technical domain is something that doesn't need to be well understood anymore because we have an LLM that keeps coming up with plausible answers. I work in mortgage technology where there is a great deal of thought and discipline that needs to go into the technical modeling of who gets underwritten for a mortgage. Imaging a mortgage company that built its underwriting rules and models using an LLM with you as the head LLM seance holder. All of the sudden a mass of customers got denied mortgages for some unknown reason and Management comes to you to ask what happened.

Would you know what happened? Could anyone even know what happened?

"Sorry, Customer! We actually don't know anything about what we built or how it works."

LLMs may eventually eliminate the act of typing code but the real question is will they eliminate the need for critical thought.