Vibe Coding

The Emerging Trend That Could Change How We Build Software

At Gambit Recruitment, we’re always watching the horizon for ideas that could reshape how technology teams work, not just the newest frameworks, but shifts in mindset that change what it means to build software and hire talent.

One of the most interesting concepts we’re seeing pop up this year is vibe coding. It’s still early, but it could mark a real shift in how teams design, code and ship products.

So, what exactly is vibe coding? Why are some developers so excited about it? And how might it change the industry here in New Zealand and beyond?

What is vibe coding?

Vibe coding isn’t a formal methodology or programming language. The term comes from Andrej Karpathy, a co-founder of OpenAI and former AI leader at Tesla. It describes the concept of partnering up with a Large Language Model (LLM) to build code together through a conversation.

This technique prioritizes the feel (or vibe) of the programme over the correctness of the code. It is rapid, intuitive, and conversational rather than strictly planned. Instead of designing every class and function upfront, developers test ideas quickly, using AI suggestions, prompts and real-time feedback to shape the solution as they go.

The “vibe” comes from trusting your intuition and creative spark, with AI tools helping fill in the gaps, catch mistakes, or suggest alternatives along the way.

How could this change the tech industry?

At first glance, vibe coding sounds a bit chaotic. But it could reshape how a software team works and the skills that matter most. Some changes may include:

• Faster prototyping: Teams can test and discard ideas quickly without heavy upfront design.
• Changing skills mix: Success may depend less on remembering syntax, and more on prompt writing, critical thinking, and guiding AI suggestions.
• Wider collaboration: Product managers, designers or even stakeholders might influence code direction through natural language prompts.
• Evolving hiring focus: Companies could start valuing creativity, product sense and AI literacy as much as technical depth in a single framework.

At the same time, if AI can reliably handle routine coding, some teams may simply need fewer developers for the same output. For clients, this could mean faster delivery and leaner teams; for candidates, it could make standing out more about creativity, product thinking and AI fluency, rather than just raw coding speed. It’s a shift that could be unsettling but can also unlock new roles for those ready to adapt.

Just as agile transformed delivery and DevOps changed deployment, vibe coding could change the game by making software development feel more fluid, creative and human, powered by AI in the background.

Where to explore more about vibe coding

I recently read Karpathys blog post on his vibe coding experience when making MenuGen. You can read more about it here: https://karpathy.bearblog.dev/vibe-coding-menugen/

If you’re curious, keep an eye on the AI tooling space where teams are already experimenting with new workflows that make coding feel more like conversation.

You can dive deeper by following Dev.to or The Hacker News to follow threads about vibe coding, AI pair programming, and generative coding. This article was particularly interesting: https://thehackernews.com/2025/06/secure-vibe-coding-complete-new-guide.html

There are many products popping up to explore vibe coding for yourself, I had a lot of fun playing around with Lovable.dev, GitHub Copilot and Replit.

You can also keep up with news on Twitter (X) threads under hashtags like #vibecoding and #promptengineering.

The bigger picture

At Gambit Recruitment, we see vibe coding as part of a broader shift to human-AI collaboration in everyday development.

The tools are early, but the industry is already demanding faster iteration, collaborative creativity, and less rigidity. For teams, this could mean rethinking how projects are scoped and staffed. For candidates, it means being open to tools that augment your skills, rather than replace them.

And for hiring? It might be time to look beyond just frameworks and languages, and ask “Can this person guide AI tools, think creatively and adapt in real time?” Because that’s where the future seems to be heading.

If you’d like to talk about how trends like vibe coding could shape your hiring plans, or what new skills might matter most, let’s connect.

At Gambit, we keep an eye on what’s next so you can stay ahead.

Thomas Hoksbergen | 09 355 8324 | thomas@gambitrecruitment.co.nz