Mark Zuckerberg thinks AI will replace developers in 2025. So I asked real developers what they think about this. The responses paint an interesting picture:

The algorithm experts are panicking. The React developers are learning TikTok dances. The freelancers? They're drinking coffee, unbothered.

Let me share a story that captures why.

A Tale of Two Approaches

Picture this: A small flower shop needs a website. The AI agency's pitch? $10,000 for a "blockchain-enabled flower delivery" system.

The human developer's solution? A simple local business website and Google Business Profile setup for $500.

The result? The flower shop appears when people search "flowers near me." $2,000 in sales while sleeping.

Meanwhile, the AI agency is still explaining what blockchain means.

Where the Real Money Flows in 2025

The actual opportunities right now:

• Small business websites (AI can't handle real client relationships)
• WordPress/Drupal maintenance (20-year-old sites still run businesses)
• Freelance work (turns out clients prefer humans)
• E-commerce setups (someone's got to connect those payment systems)
• Local business tech support (AI can't set up hosting and domains)
• Small business marketing strategy (AI can't plan local campaigns)

The Success Stories Around Us

The developers focusing on local business websites? Beach house owners. The freelancers handling local clients? Tesla drivers. The WordPress specialists? Booked until 2026.

While Silicon Valley pours millions into teaching AI to write algorithms, small business owners are saying, "AI doesn't understand what my business needs."

The Market Reality

In this story, every flower shop in town fired their AI agency. They all wanted simple, effective websites that actually bring in customers.

Life lesson: While everyone panics about AI replacing code, the real opportunity is in helping real businesses make real money.

(P.S. No cousins or flower shops were harmed in the making of this post. But the opportunities? Those are real.)

The next time someone talks about AI replacing developers, remind them: the real money is in solving real-world problems. Now go find yours.