Software engineering is undergoing a fundamental change.

Advances in AI – particularly generative AI and agent-based systems – are not just improving how software is built. They are redefining how the software lifecycle is implemented with software engineering platforms, how organizations can achieve the right balance between speed, quality, security and cost, how software teams operate and how value is created with measurable results. Our latest Point of View explores this shift in depth, setting out a clear perspective on what modern software engineering means – and what it takes to make it real.

AI is moving rapidly from isolated tools and assistants into an integrated software lifecycle and workflows across personas and agents. From design and development to testing and operations, intelligent agents are becoming active participants in software organizations

This is driving a move towards agentic software engineering – a model where human teams work alongside AI agents, guiding and governing execution rather than performing every task directly.

The impact is significant. Delivery models are changing. Roles are evolving. And the platforms that support, secure and control agentic software engineering are becoming more critical than ever.

In this Point of View, we focus on three shifts shaping the future of software engineering:

  • The move to agentic software engineering where automated workflows and orchestrated agents teams extend across the full lifecycle
  • The evolution of software engineering roles, as teams shift from coding and routine tasks to conductors of orchestration, validation and control
  • The growing importance of software engineering platforms, enabling scale, security, and consistent human–AI collaboration

Together, these changes are moving organizations beyond experimentation and towards a more structured, scalable, controlled approach to agentic software engineering.

But while technology maturity is accelerating, many organizations remain early in their journey. The challenge is no longer whether to use AI – but how to industrialize it and to adopt at scale: how to adapt the software delivery methods and organization, govern effectively, and translate it into measurable value for the business and IT.

Our Point of View sets out guidance – covering the foundations, decisions and capabilities required to move from ambition to execution. It is designed to help leaders understand not just what is changing, but what they should do next.

Explore modern software engineering – and how to position your organization to lead in the age of AI.

Download the Modern Software Engineering PoV