TORONTO – The president of Constellation Software Inc. says it’s proving difficult to determine whether artificial intelligence is causing a renaissance or a recession in programming.
Mark Leonard says it’s possible AI will lead to a surge in demand for programmers, if the technology improves their efficiency tenfold and allows for more customizable software to be created.
But on the other hand, Leonard says a tenfold increase in productivity may trigger a massive oversupply of programmers, especially if demand for their services remains static.
Leonard feels it’s hard to determine which scenario is more likely because the state of AI is changing rapidly and no one has a real sense of what it will be capable of a year from now.
He says the uncertainty is why his Toronto-based software development company is monitoring the situation closely.
Leonard’s remarks come as Constellation’s share price has been sliding since the spring as investors worry about whether AI will make the work the company does more affordable and accessible to competitors.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 22, 2025.
Companies in this story: (TSX:CSU)
