Prompt engineering jobs decline as AI models improve

Prompt engineering, once considered a promising career in artificial intelligence with potential salaries of up to $250,000, has become largely obsolete, reports Isabelle Bousquette in The Wall Street Journal. The role, which involved crafting precise inputs for AI models, has diminished in importance as newer AI systems have become better at understanding user intent and can ask clarifying questions. Microsoft’s recent survey of 31,000 workers across 31 countries revealed prompt engineering ranked near the bottom of anticipated new roles, while positions like AI trainer and AI security specialist topped the list. Companies including Nationwide, Carhartt, and New York Life have opted to train existing employees on prompt engineering skills rather than hiring specialists, viewing it as a capability to be integrated into existing roles rather than a standalone position.