Beyond Coding: The Dawn of 'Vibe Working

"I think that we are now transitioning almost into vibe working." When Scott White, Anthropic's head of product for enterprise, coined this phrase, he wasn't just talking about the future—he was describing what's happening right now.

More Than Just Better Coding

Anthropic'sClaude Opus 4.6, launched Thursday, represents a significant leap beyond its predecessors. While previous models could handle basic coding tasks, this latest iteration excels at planning, code review, and debugging within large codebases. More importantly, it can pull relevant information from vast document sets, conduct research, and perform financial analyses.

The model now holds the top spot on the Finance Agent benchmark, which evaluates how well AI agents perform core financial analyst tasks. This isn't just about writing code anymore—it's about handling the kind of work that traditionally required years of professional experience.

"Claude went from a model that you can sort of talk to accomplish a very small task or get an answer, to something that you can actually hand real significant work to," White explained. The shift from task-oriented AI to work-capable AI marks a fundamental change in how we think about artificial intelligence.

Software Sector Under Pressure

The numbers tell a stark story. The WisdomTree Cloud Computing Fund has dropped more than 20% year-to-date, while the broader software sector lost about 30% of its value in just three months. Investors are increasingly worried about AI's potential to disrupt traditional software businesses.

Anthropic's enterprise focus makes this particularly concerning for established players. With roughly 80% of its business coming from enterprise customers, the company's AI coding tool Claude Code and productivity platform Claude Cowork directly compete with existing software solutions that companies pay billions for annually.

The fear isn't unfounded. When AI can perform tasks that previously required specialized software and human expertise, what happens to the companies that built their business models around those needs?

The Enterprise AI Gold Rush

Anthropic's timing couldn't be better. Founded by former OpenAI researchers in 2021, the company has positioned itself as the enterprise-friendly alternative in the AI race. While OpenAI captures headlines with consumer applications, Anthropic quietly built relationships with businesses willing to pay premium prices for reliable, professional-grade AI.

The company's model naming convention—Opus for the largest, Sonnet for mid-size, and Haiku for the smallest—reflects a more measured, literary approach compared to the aggressive marketing of competitors. But don't mistake subtlety for lack of ambition.

The 'Vibe Working' Revolution

White's concept of "vibe working" extends beyond coding to encompass any professional task where ideas can be translated directly into output without deep technical knowledge. Just as "vibe coding" allowed non-programmers to create software, "vibe working" could democratize complex professional tasks across industries.

Consider the implications: financial analysis without years of training, legal research without law school, market research without specialized expertise. If AI can handle the technical execution, human creativity and strategic thinking become the primary differentiators.

Winners and Losers in the New Landscape

Not everyone loses in this transition. Companies that embrace AI tools early could see massive productivity gains and cost reductions. Startups with limited resources might compete more effectively against established players. Individual professionals who adapt quickly could become significantly more valuable.

But traditional software companies, consulting firms, and knowledge workers who resist change face an uncertain future. The question isn't whether AI will impact these industries—it's how quickly and thoroughly the transformation will occur.