Will XML really disappear?

Not yet. Although XML is an old technology, it is still consistently used in the following areas:

  • Large corporate internal systems (especially finance, insurance, healthcare)

  • Data migration and integration tasks

  • Web services (SOAP API, etc.)

  • Electronic documents (e-invoices, airline reservation systems, etc.)

  • Integration with legacy software

In particular, governments, public institutions, and legacy systems are still XML havens. In other words, it hasn't disappeared, and it will remain a viable technology for a while.

However, XML is unlikely to become the main technology. Nowadays, JSON is the trend, and modern technologies like REST API and GraphQL are much easier and lighter to use than XML.

Most developers prefer JSON, and new technologies are tailored to it. Therefore, XML is rarely used in new projects.

If AI can replace it, can't XML be created automatically?

That's right. Nowadays, tools like GPT and Copilot can easily create XML documents.

But the problem is this:

AI can generate code, but it still needs to be understood by humans why it works that way, where the errors occur, and how to fix it.

Especially since XML can be deep and complex, human understanding and refinement are essential when applying it to real systems. While it's good that AI can create drafts, if you don't know the basic concepts or rules, it can't be used in practice.

Conclusion: In 2025, XML will be "not a core technology, but a "useful tool to know"

  • Diving deep into XML may be inefficient. (Instead, JSON, YAML, and GraphQL are more important)

  • However, learning the basic structure, syntax, and reasons for use can be useful in practice.

  • Especially if you plan to work in system integration, legacy maintenance, large corporate projects, or public institution integration, it is absolutely necessary.

  • Even though AI can help, lack of basic knowledge can lead to more mistakes.

Recommended learning strategy

  • Instead of digging deep into XML, learn to 'read, understand, and modify' it.

  • Focus on modern technologies like JSON, REST API, and OpenAPI as the basics, and approach XML as an additional legacy technology.