  Over the last ten years, the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has
experienced an explosion of revolutionary breakthroughs, transforming what
seemed like a far-off dream into a reality that is now deeply embedded in our
everyday lives. AI's widespread impact is revolutionizing virtually all aspects
of human life, and software engineering (SE) is no exception.
  As we explore this changing landscape, we are faced with questions about what
the future holds for SE and how AI will reshape the roles, duties, and
methodologies within the field. The introduction of these groundbreaking
technologies highlights the inevitable shift towards a new paradigm, suggesting
a future where AI's capabilities may redefine the boundaries of SE, potentially
even more than human input.
  In this paper, we aim at outlining the key elements that, based on our
expertise, are vital for the smooth integration of AI into SE, all while
preserving the intrinsic human creativity that has been the driving force
behind the field. First, we provide a brief description of SE and AI evolution.
Afterward, we delve into the intricate interplay between AI-driven automation
and human innovation, exploring how these two components can work together to
advance SE practices to new methods and standards.
