"...tasks I could have done in 20 minutes easily, that took 5 minutes of an AI agent, and then 2 days for me to review..."
Yep. Part of the job of a software developer is managing complexity.
It's critical because of its exponential nature: as complexity increases it becomes exponentially more difficult to successfully change, understand, or support the system.
From any given position, AI seems to be the right next single move. When things are simple, it's fast and smooth. When things are complex, sota models can handle it, accounting for the details of dozens or hundreds of things at a time.
The problem is, without strict guidance, it tends to add complexity. If you let it, it builds systems at a rate and in a manner that a human cannot understand it. The best next single move leads to a poor overall position.
Then you have no choice but to keep using AI, and to keep upgrading to the next, more powerful model.
Or retreat.
It's pretty clear to me that, as a whole, we don't know yet how to develop with AI. People are mistaking token output or short-term progress for real progress. They people who are going to be successful with AI-assisted development are going to be the ones who can maintain control of their systems while they do it, and the key skill will be complexity management.
Yep. Part of the job of a software developer is managing complexity.
It's critical because of its exponential nature: as complexity increases it becomes exponentially more difficult to successfully change, understand, or support the system.
From any given position, AI seems to be the right next single move. When things are simple, it's fast and smooth. When things are complex, sota models can handle it, accounting for the details of dozens or hundreds of things at a time.
The problem is, without strict guidance, it tends to add complexity. If you let it, it builds systems at a rate and in a manner that a human cannot understand it. The best next single move leads to a poor overall position.
Then you have no choice but to keep using AI, and to keep upgrading to the next, more powerful model.
Or retreat.
It's pretty clear to me that, as a whole, we don't know yet how to develop with AI. People are mistaking token output or short-term progress for real progress. They people who are going to be successful with AI-assisted development are going to be the ones who can maintain control of their systems while they do it, and the key skill will be complexity management.