How AI-Vibe Coding Is Creating a New Fixer Market
366Artificial intelligence is changing the way people code. But it’s not all smooth sailing. Many AI tools that generate code often produce messy, unpolished results. Some programmers are even making money by fixing these AI-made messes, especially when amateurs rely on AI vibes instead of solid coding skills.
The Rise of Vibe Coding and Fixers
Vibe coding is when programmers use AI to generate code based on a certain “vibe” or feel. It sounds cool, but the results can be off. Often, the code works but isn’t quite what the developer wanted. That’s where fixer experts come in. Hamid Siddiqi is one such programmer. He offers to clean up vibe-generated projects on platforms like Fiverr. Siddiqi says many clients come to him with poorly optimized code or broken user interfaces created by AI. His business is thriving, with around 15-20 regular clients and extra projects throughout the year.
Siddiqi started this side gig in late 2023. He’s found that fixing AI errors is a growing need. Because AI models tend to hallucinate—meaning they make up stuff or produce errors—fixers are in demand. One person even lost their entire business database because an AI-generated code wiped it out. Despite the risks, some see AI coding as a new frontier. But many experienced developers are warning that relying on AI can slow down progress due to the need for constant checking and fixing.
Big Tech Embraces AI for Coding, But With Risks
Major tech companies are jumping into AI coding. Google’s Sundar Pichai says that about a quarter of Google’s code now comes from AI. Microsoft’s Satya Nadella claims his company uses AI for 30 percent of their coding work. However, studies suggest this might not be saving much time. Some programmers report being 19 percent slower when using AI tools like Anthropic’s Claude, often using less than half of the AI’s suggestions. This indicates that AI isn’t yet reliable enough to replace human oversight.
On gig platforms like Fiverr, hundreds of programmers now offer services to fix vibe code. Many of these gigs explicitly mention fixing AI-generated code. Some companies, such as Ulam Labs, have built their businesses around cleaning up after AI coding. There’s even a dedicated website called VibeCodeFixers.com, which has over 300 registered programmers ready to fix AI’s coding mistakes. The rise of vibe fixers shows that AI’s current limitations are creating new opportunities for experienced programmers to step in and clean up the mess.
Many in the tech world see AI coding as a work in progress. Its flaws mean that human expertise is still essential, especially for critical or complex projects. For now, AI can be a tool to assist programmers, but trust in its outputs remains limited. As AI continues to improve, the role of vibe fixers might evolve, but they’re currently filling a clear need in the tech community.
In the end, AI’s promise of faster, smarter coding still faces hurdles. While some companies push ahead with AI-generated code, others are finding that the best approach right now is a mix: let AI handle the basics, then bring in skilled programmers to refine and fix. This new niche of vibe code fixing highlights both the potential and the pitfalls of AI in software development.
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