Last Updated:February 07, 2026, 21:35 IST

Dario Amodei of Anthropic warns at Davos that AI could make software engineering obsolete within a year, a view supported by Sridhar Vembu of Zoho.

Dario Amodei of Anthropic warns at Davos that AI could make software engineering obsolete within a year, a view supported by Sridhar Vembu of Zoho. (Pic: Wikipedia)

Software engineering may be the profession feeling the sharpest impact of artificial intelligence, with core tasks such as coding increasingly being handled by AI systems. Tech giants like Google, Amazon and Microsoft are already using AI to generate portions of new codebases—a trend expected to accelerate.

Against this backdrop, Dario Amodei, chief executive of Anthropic, has issued a stark warning: software engineering as a profession could effectively become obsolete within the next 12 months. While the claim has sparked debate, it has also drawn support from industry leaders, including Sridhar Vembu, founder of Zoho, who says the warning deserves serious attention.

Amodei made the remarks last month at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, where he spoke about how rapidly AI is reshaping jobs, productivity and the global economy. He argued that the impact of AI on employment is no longer theoretical, particularly in software development.

The comments went viral online, drawing both agreement and scepticism. Responding to a clip of Amodei’s remarks shared on X, Vembu urged people not to dismiss the warning. “We better pay attention to him because he has the best coding tool in the world,” Vembu wrote, noting that the message carries weight because it comes from the head of a company building some of the most advanced AI coding tools.

Explaining his concern, Amodei said AI is rapidly shifting from being a productivity aid to becoming the primary executor of work. Software development, he noted, is among the clearest examples of this transition. At Anthropic itself, engineers increasingly rely on AI models to generate code, stepping in mainly to review and refine outputs.

“I have engineering leads who have basically said to me, ‘I don’t write any code anymore. I just let Opus do the work and I edit it,’” Amodei said.

While his warning focused on coders, Amodei cautioned that the implications extend far beyond software teams. He said AI could drive significant job losses across industries as models grow more capable at an accelerating pace.

“We basically have a Moore’s Law for intelligence, where the model is getting more and more cognitively capable every few months,” he said, arguing that as AI takes on increasingly complex tasks, the need for large teams of human programmers could shrink dramatically—potentially eliminating job categories that took decades to build.

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Last Updated:February 07, 2026, 19:59 IST

The Income Tax Department released draft Income-tax Rules, 2026 for stakeholder consultation, aiming to simplify compliance and modernise tax administration from April 1, 2026.

The Income Tax Department released draft Income-tax Rules, 2026 for stakeholder consultation, aiming to simplify compliance and modernise tax administration from April 1, 2026.

The Income Tax Department has released the draft Income-tax Rules, 2026, laying out the detailed procedural framework for implementing the Income-tax Act, 2025, from April 1, 2026. The move marks a key milestone in India’s largest direct-tax overhaul, aimed at simplifying compliance and reducing litigation.

The draft rules and proposed forms have been placed in the public domain for stakeholder consultation until February 22, 2026, giving taxpayers, professionals and industry bodies time to prepare ahead of the new law’s rollout.

“We all remember that on Budget Day, the Hon’ble Finance Minister had clearly stated that the new Income-Tax Forms and Rules would be released soon, so that taxpayers and professionals are not caught unprepared ahead of the new Act,” said Himank Singla, Founding Partner at SBHS & Co., talking to Money Control. “With the Act scheduled to come into force from April 1, 2026, the government has now taken an important step by releasing the draft rules and forms for consultation.”

While the new Act sets out the legal framework, the draft rules explain how it will work in practice covering aspects such as valuation norms, filing formats and procedural requirements for taxpayers, professionals and tax authorities.

According to Pratibha Goyal, a New Delhi–based chartered accountant, the draft rules significantly simplify the system. “The Income-tax Act, 1961 contained 511 rules. These have now been reduced to 323, making the new Act far simpler and easier to understand,” she said.

Once finalised, the Income-tax Rules, 2026 will replace the Income-tax Rules, 1962, which have governed tax administration alongside the 1961 Act for more than six decades. The government says the objective is to modernise tax administration and make the law easier to interpret and apply.

Singla noted that the drafting philosophy mirrors the intent of the new Act. “The focus is on simplification, removal of redundancy and better readability. The draft rules use simpler language, supported by tables and formulas, so that compliance becomes more objective and less interpretational,” he said.

On the compliance front, the draft income-tax return (ITR) forms have also been rationalised. The government has indicated that forms will be standardised across categories and redesigned with features such as automated reconciliation, pre-filled data and technology-driven processing.

“This is expected to reduce errors, improve taxpayer experience and enhance the efficiency of centralised processing systems,” Singla added.

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Dakar rally: The Dakar Rally is one of the world’s toughest off-road races. It is a multi-stage event covering almost 8,000 kilometres over deserts, dunes, rocks, and rough terrain. Originally held in Africa, the rally has taken place in Saudi Arabia in recent years, attracting top riders, drivers, and teams from across the globe. Participants riding cars, bikes, trucks, light vehicles, and classic vehicles take part in this rally. Harsh temperatures, navigation challenges, and mechanical stress make it a highly competitive race.

The 2026 Dakar Rally was a 14-day, 13-stage, 8,000 km event that took place from January 3 to January 17, 2026, in Saudi Arabia. It saw dramatic racing and close finishes. In the overall motorcycle category, Argentina’s Luciano Benavides clinched victory by just two seconds, one of the closest margins in the event’s history.

In the car category, Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah secured his sixth Dakar Rally title, driving for the Dacia Sandriders team and reinforcing his position as one of the sport’s all-time greats. He led over 8,000 km of racing across Saudi Arabia and finished with a strong lead over the competition. Other notable performances included strong showings from Ford Racing, with podium finishes and stage wins.

India’s participation at Dakar 2026

Indian competitors also secured notable achievements at the 2026 Dakar Rally, with two key figures drawing attention:

Sanjay Takale’s historic run: Veteran Indian rally driver Sanjay Takale made history at the Dakar Rally by winning the H3 class prologue and standing on the Dakar podium in the four-wheel category – a first for an Indian. He finished 35th overall in the cars classification and became the first Indian to achieve this milestone.

Takale’s effort marked a significant moment for Indian motorsport. However, his Dakar campaign later ended due to a mechanical failure, forcing him to withdraw before the end of the event.

Harith Noah competes in bikes: On the two-wheeled side, Harith Noah, a top Indian rally-raid rider from Kerala, also competed in the Dakar Rally’s bike category. Noah has been part of multiple Dakar campaigns and brought valuable experience to one of the world’s most challenging motorsport events.

Indian teams such as Hero MotoSports also participated in the event, maintaining India’s growing presence at Dakar with competitive stage results and notable finishes.

(Also Read: India’s cheapest 7-seater car: Price starts at just Rs 5.7 lakh, 20 km/l mileage, comfortable cabin, AMT options, 625 litres boot space and more)

Dakar is more than just a race

The Dakar Rally is more than a race; it is a test of endurance, skill, and strategy. Competitors drive through extreme temperatures, unpredictable terrain, and strict navigation rules that can change standings dramatically from stage to stage. Finishing this event earns respect in the motorsport world, and individual stage wins or class podiums are celebrated worldwide.

The 2026 Dakar Rally showcased challenging terrains, historic individual achievements, and competitive performances across categories.