If you spend enough time on tech Twitter, LinkedIn, or developer forums, you'll eventually come across the same prediction: AI is about to replace software engineers. The argument sounds convincing at first. AI can generate code, create websites, build prototypes, and help developers ship features faster than ever before. But there is a big difference between creating something that works in a demo and building something that can support real users, real businesses, and real-world complexity. The reality is that some problems still require experienced engineering teams. In many cases, AI simply makes those teams more productive rather than replacing them altogether. Here are five areas where engineering expertise continues to matter. 1. Building Products That Can Scale Launching a prototype is relatively easy today. Building a system that can support thousands or millions of users is a completely different challenge.…