The rapid adoption of AI and automation is reshaping professional profiles. Microsoft has already merged four key roles —product manager, designer, frontend developer, and backend developer— into one: the Full Stack Builder. Are we witnessing the end of rigid specialists and the rise of the all-rounder professional?
The Rise of the Full Stack Builder
Microsoft has reorganized its teams around the Full Stack Builder archetype, arguing that today a single person, aided by AI, can do what previously required a team of four. According to Reggie Britt, a Microsoft engineer: "one person can now do what used to require a cross-functional team of four."
This trend is not an isolated case. Oliver Reeves, a tech recruiting expert, reports a gradual decline in specific "frontend engineer" job postings. Many startups confirm that today their backend engineer, supported by large language models (LLMs), can also cover frontend work, eliminating the need for dedicated UI roles.
Abderahmane Boucetta (PhD) posted on LinkedIn that AI assistance tools allow each individual to "do everything", meaning "specialized silos will disappear" and generalists will gain ground. In other words, the all-rounder talent —the professional who spans multiple areas— is gaining strength over the traditional vision of rigid specialists.
The Voice of Experts
The most recognized industry analysts agree that the change is already underway:
- Bethan Vincent (communicator): uses the panda versus shark analogy. The specialist (panda) thrives in stable environments, but the generalist (shark, which eats everything) has an advantage in changing environments. In her view, "choosing to be a generalist means optimizing for volatility" — a key capability in today's world.
- Scott Amenta (Chief of Staff Network): argues that in the AI era, the defining talent is no longer "deep expertise in a narrow field", but the ability to think in systems and connect ideas from different areas. "This is the era of the generalist," he states. The most valuable profiles will be those who "connect the dots" between disciplines: product managers who understand both technical aspects and user psychology, or operations leaders capable of integrating finance, logistics, and human teams.
- Satya Nadella (Microsoft): actively drives the Full Stack Builder model as part of a strategic reorganization that reflects the company's confidence that AI can absorb the repetitive and specialized tasks of each role.
Specialist or Generalist? The Debate
The trend toward all-rounder professionals doesn't mean abandoning specialization, but enriching it with a holistic vision. The new economy prefers T-shaped professionals: with deep knowledge anchored in a specialty and broad bandwidth in complementary skills.
According to Manpower Group, the ideal IT professional of the future will be a hybrid: "not solely an expert in one area nor an unfocused generalist, but a hybrid who combines depth in their area with a broad vision." Companies increasingly value specialists who can also "collaborate, lead, and connect dots between different disciplines."
"The modern workplace will not be kind to pure specialists: those who will thrive are those who can pivot and learn across multiple domains." — Scott Amenta
Implications for Companies
Technology organizations are already redesigning their structures. Instead of hiring four roles per project, they seek individuals who can cover the entire product lifecycle. Companies that don't reorganize this way may fall behind, while small startups with agile "all-rounders" move faster.
Flatter, multifunctional teams are not only more economical: they are faster. They eliminate communicative friction between roles, reduce coordination meetings, and allow quicker iteration. The classic divisions (front-end vs back-end, development vs design, PM vs engineering) tend to blur when one person with the right tools can cover them all.
Implications for Education
Education must also evolve. A Microsoft report shows that many professional jobs —even those requiring university degrees like journalists or political scientists— are at risk from AI. Getting a degree is no longer enough to guarantee job stability.
Universities must stop offering ultra-specialized tracks and promote more comprehensive curricula, where continuous learning, interdisciplinary competencies, and soft skills (leadership, communication, teamwork) are just as important as deep technical knowledge.
Key Skills in the All-Rounder Era
Thriving in this context requires new mixed skills:
- Mastery of advanced AI tools and no-code platforms: they enable a single professional to perform multiple tasks.
- Solid technical knowledge in critical areas: AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and UX remain irreplaceable pillars.
- Effective communication and leadership: to coordinate without relying on rigid hierarchies.
- Business vision and adaptability: understanding the impact of technology on the business and pivoting when necessary.
- Continuous learning: successful all-rounders learn to learn in different fields, finding transferable patterns across disciplines.
Conclusion: The Future Belongs to Connectors
The tech industry is moving toward comprehensive profiles. All-rounders —versatile professionals who understand both the technical and organizational aspects— appear to be the best positioned for the next decade. Workers who can connect areas (both when designing products and managing processes) will be increasingly in demand.
This doesn't mean specialization will disappear: it means the specialist of the future will also need to be able to think about the complete system. Universities and companies must strengthen this combination: training professionals with depth in a subject, but trained to think "about everything."
Ultimately, the future of IT work points to a convergence of talents: those who balance technical expertise with broad skills will be the true winners in the era of the all-rounder.