Why Software Engineers Should Move Into AI Engineering for Job Security

Bashiri Smith · Facebook reel · 2026-08-26 · 0:48 · 1,216 views · Open on Facebook

Topics: Resume, Job Search & Interviews, Industry Trends & Job Market, Start Here: Roadmaps & Strategy · Level: beginner

Summary

The creator argues that software engineers who worry about job security should move into AI engineering. He says it is the most in-demand job in 2026, that about 80% of its skills are software engineering basics, and that the other 20% can be learned in about three months. He adds that it pays at least 20% more and makes it easier to move into new roles such as forward deployed engineer (FDE). The video ends with a pitch for his BASWE AI Engineer community.

Key points

• AI engineering is presented as the most in-demand job in 2026 and the natural next step up from software engineering.
• About 80% of AI engineering skills are software engineering basics you already have.
• The remaining ~20% of AI-specific skills can be learned in about 3 months if you stay committed.
• Average salary and total compensation for AI engineers are said to be at least 20% higher than for software engineers.
• Being an AI engineer makes it easier to move into whatever role comes next as the field changes.
• Forward deployed engineer (FDE) roles are popular right now, but the creator says their requirements are basically those of an AI engineer.

Resources mentioned

• BASWE.Ai Engineer (Skool community) · community · skool.com · paid
  The creator's paid community and program, with an AI learning roadmap (including the full ops and evaluation track), daily calls with engineers and recruiters, resume and portfolio help, and a job-search pipeline.
  Also in: Basic RAG Pipeline in 60 Seconds: From Documents to Grounded Answers (Bashiri Smith on Facebook · notes), Pointer to Bashiri Smith's Complete AI Engineer Roadmap for 2026 (Bashiri Smith on Facebook · notes), Step-by-Step Roadmap to a $200K+ AI Engineering Role (Bashiri Smith on Facebook · notes), How to Evaluate a RAG Pipeline: Retrieval vs. Generation (Interview Answer) (Bashiri Smith on Facebook · notes) and 76 more

Try this

• If you are a software engineer, start moving toward AI engineering now.
• Plan to learn the remaining ~20% of AI-specific skills over about 3 months of focused study.
• Read FDE job postings closely and compare them with AI engineer requirements.
• Optional (promo): comment '90' or use the caption link to join the BASWE AI Engineer community.