Cognition’s Scott Wu says AI coding agents shouldn’t replace humans

Cognition, the AI coding agent startup behind Devin, has secured a staggering $1 billion in funding this week, valuing the company at $26 billion. Despite this massive investment and the company’s vision for "self-driving software development," CEO Scott Wu has emphatically stated that AI coding agents like Devin are not intended to replace human programmers.

The substantial funding underscores the rapid growth and transformative potential of AI in software creation. Devin, described by Wu as an AI capable of "naturally own[ing] tasks end to end," is positioned as a leading tool in this evolving landscape.

In a year where numerous tech CEOs have announced layoffs, often citing AI as a factor in supplanting workers, Wu's stance offers a contrasting perspective. Speaking to TechCrunch, he clarified, "We’ve never thought about it as replacing humans. I know it’s like a scenario, folks have said these things. It has never been our view."

Wu, himself a lifelong programmer who started coding at age nine, brings a personal understanding to the craft. His background as a celebrated child competitive programmer, profiled by Colossus, shaped his appreciation for software development and connected him with other tech luminaries, including Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang.

This personal history informs his vision for Devin. Wu refers to the AI agent as a "buddy who helps you build more," a sentiment physically embodied by a Devin teddy bear he keeps on his desk. His aim is to enhance, not diminish, the human element of programming.

He believes that AI agents should not strip away the inherent joy of coding. Wu highlighted that most software engineers are passionate about creating, finding satisfaction in transforming ideas into products and experiences. He sees AI agents as another layer of abstraction, much like visual development environments, designed to streamline the creative process.

Paradoxically, Cognition itself relies heavily on Devin for its internal operations. The company reported that 89% of code committed by its engineers was actually committed by Devin, with the remainder handled by local agents from Windsurf, a company Cognition acquired last year.

Wu reconciles this high internal usage by explaining that Devin primarily handles "long-tail maintenance tasks." These include updating legacy software or migrating applications between platforms—tasks that many programmers find tedious. By automating this "toil," agents free human engineers to focus on more creative aspects of development.

While Devin can work independently, Wu estimates its current capability at "somewhere between a junior and a mid-level engineer" depending on the complexity of the task. He strongly resists the notion that Devin is meant to "replace" human coders entirely.

Looking ahead, Wu acknowledged the concept of "self-driving software," where agents autonomously learn and improve—a process often referred to as "recursive" AI. He anticipates "a wild ride" as these capabilities evolve.

Wu foresees AI agents extending their reach beyond software development into diverse fields such as customer service and medicine. His consistent hope across all industries is that these agents will augment human workers, not supplant them. "One thing that’s been clear to us since the beginning is, it should always be up to the human what to do," Wu asserted, emphasizing human control as a paramount principle across all professions.

FAQ

Q: What is Cognition's Devin?

A: Devin is an AI coding agent developed by Cognition that is designed to handle software development tasks end-to-end, described by CEO Scott Wu as capable of owning tasks from start to finish.

Q: How does Cognition's CEO Scott Wu view the role of AI coding agents like Devin?

A: Scott Wu views Devin as a tool to augment human programmers, acting as a "buddy" that helps them build more by handling mundane tasks. He explicitly states that the company's intention is not to replace human coders.

Q: How much of Cognition's own code is committed by Devin?

A: Cognition states that 89% of code committed by its engineers internally was committed by Devin, with the remaining code handled by local agents from its acquired company, Windsurf.