AI Isn’t Replacing Developers. It’s Promoting Them.
Source: Dev.to
The Dilemma of Using AI Tools
A young mobile developer on our team recently shared something many engineers silently feel:
“Do we really have to use AI tools like Cursor or Copilot?
It doesn’t feel like my code anymore.
And when I dig into AI‑generated logic, I feel like I’m losing control.”
This wasn’t fear of technology. It was fear of losing identity.
The Washing‑Machine Analogy
I asked him:
- “Do you have a washing machine at home?” – “Yes.”
- “Do you still wash clothes by hand?” – “No.”
- “Then who washed your clothes?” – (Long pause) “…I did.”
What the Machine Actually Does
- Choose the machine
- Pick the mode
- Add detergent
- Decide what goes in
- Check the result
The machine only removes the repetitive part. It doesn’t remove responsibility, judgment, or decision‑making—the true skills.
Shifting Engineering Value
For decades we glorified:
“Look how much code I wrote!”
Today, real engineering value lies in:
- Asking smarter questions
- Spotting bad patterns early
- Changing direction quickly
- Owning the final outcome fully
Typing fast ≠ engineering excellence. Thinking clearly = engineering leadership. AI isn’t replacing that; AI is demanding more of it.
From Boilerplate to Judgment
The shift has already started:
- Before: “How do I write this logic?”
- Now: “Is this logic even right?”
Higher‑level thinking becomes the job. AI handles the boilerplate; you handle the judgment.
What AI Can Do
- Generate functions
- Refactor code
- Automate patterns
- Speed up delivery
What AI Still Cannot Do
- Understand business nuance
- Foresee unintended consequences
- Navigate ethical/exposure risk
- Take responsibility when things break
That accountability stays with us—at a higher level than ever before.
Embracing the Partnership
We didn’t lose dignity when washing machines arrived; we gained back our time. The same applies to AI:
- AI: Writes code faster, handles syntax, takes the grunt work.
- You: Make smarter decisions, focus on outcomes, own the product direction, take the credit.
Your value has never been in keystrokes; it’s in your judgment. Let AI handle the parts that slow you down. You handle the parts that move the product forward.
AI may write the code. You write the future.