At Meta’s first AI developer conference, LlamaCon, a prominent discussion between Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted the significant impact of artificial intelligence on software development at two of the largest tech firms globally.

In the closing keynote, Zuckerberg inquired of Nadella how much of Microsoft’s code is currently produced by AI. Nadella estimated that “perhaps 20 to 30 percent” of the code in Microsoft’s repositories is generated by AI, with some projects being nearly entirely authored by AI tools.

When Nadella redirected the question to Zuckerberg, the Meta CEO provided an even bolder forecast. Although he did not supply current statistics, Zuckerberg anticipated that within the coming year, around half of Meta’s software development could be managed by AI, with that figure expected to rise over time. It was unclear if he was specifically referencing Meta’s Llama AI models or the company’s overall development initiatives.

These figures might appear surprising to the average person, considering how novel AI coding tools still seem. However, in the tech sector, AI’s potential in code generation is being swiftly embraced and enhanced. Tools such as Meta’s own Code Llama are already being utilized to create new code, including code that aids in improving AI systems themselves.

To provide context, Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently noted that AI accounts for generating about 25 percent of Google’s new code, as reported by Engadget. Rather than displacing human programmers, AI is primarily leveraged to boost their productivity—occasionally to a significant degree.

The dialogue at LlamaCon also explored the future roles of AI within the workplace. Zuckerberg imagined a scenario where every engineer operates more like a tech lead, supported by a “small army of agents” to assist with various tasks. The discussion encompassed technical insights into agentic AI systems as well as broader philosophical inquiries, such as Nadella’s suggestion for new metrics to evaluate AI’s real-world impact—like its potential to increase the GDP of developing nations by 10 percent.

The keynote underscored the strong commitment both Meta and Microsoft have to advancing AI technology. Nadella’s participation was particularly noteworthy given Microsoft’s close collaboration with OpenAI, a significant rival to Meta in the AI arena.

As these tech powerhouses continue to explore the limits of AI capabilities, their leaders are evidently making substantial bets on a future where machines take a pivotal role in software development—and beyond.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, the parent company of Mashable, filed a lawsuit in April against OpenAI, accusing the company of infringing on Ziff Davis copyrights in the training and operation of its AI systems.