In computer programming, vibe coding is a software development practice assisted by artificial intelligence (AI) and based on chatbots (programs that simulate conversation). The software developer describes a project or task in a prompt to a large language model (LLM), which generates source code automatically. Vibe coding typically involves accepting AI-generated code without closely reviewing its internal structure, instead relying on results and follow-up prompts to guide changes.
The term was coined by computer scientist Andrej Karpathy, a co-founder of OpenAI and former AI leader at Tesla, in February 2025. Merriam-Webster listed the term in March 2025 as a "slang & trending" expression. It was named the Collins English Dictionary Word of the Year for 2025.
Advocates of vibe coding say that it allows even amateur programmers to produce software without the extensive training and skills required for software engineering. Critics point out a lack of accountability, maintainability, and the increased risk of introducing security vulnerabilities in the resulting software.
