VLSI can also be at risk due to AI?
My friend who works in automotive embedded software validation team is very sure that the ai coding tools can impact hiring and could even replace many engineers in ASIC flows.
I argued that it is not possible. We have multiple layers of abstraction and all of it, although may look like can be modelled using mathematics and equations, cannot be accurate when you look at the end result/tapeout. Hardware is 'represented' as code. Each device has its own equations and stuff for the current, voltage, etc factors modelled in the software tool backend.
Although I am aware that electronics itself is the HEAVILY AUTOMATED domain among all others, I find his argument hard to come by. No one in their work/field has ever stated such a possibility. But even the seniors from his company seem to emphasise the same.
What are your thoughts?