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Posted by koshyjohn 1 day ago

AI should elevate your thinking, not replace it(www.koshyjohn.com)
770 points | 551 commentspage 9
TrackerFF 23 hours ago|
For all we know, we're in the early stages of making traditional (software) engineering obsolete. As in, we don't know if the role of software engineer as we know it today will still exist in 10-15-20 years.

I mean, right now we're at the stage where any user can get AI to make you software to solve very specific things - almost no technical knowledge needed.

My prediction is that first will software engineers be rendered obsolete. After that, small businesses will disappear, as users can simply get those products/services directly via AI.

23df 19 hours ago|
Your prediction is... missing so much detail of how that prediction actually happens that it is pointless. This is my big dislike re. the discussion of LLMs and the effect of AI more broadly. Unless you bother to make an effort in going deeper why post it? Theres no value. The same stuff has been posted for months and even years at this point.
TrackerFF 12 hours ago||
When GPT 3.5 was released, it could handle maybe a 500 LOC codebase. Experienced engineers were calling it cute, but zero threat to actual programmers.

Then it became thousands.

Now models can handle and operate on code bases with hundreds of thousands LOC, even low MLOC.

So in just 3.5 years we've gone from LLMs being cute toys, to being powerful enough to actually replace junior engineers. Even if we hit a new AI winter tomorrow, the proverbial damage is already done.

ekeke 3 hours ago||
What damage lmao? Let’s see the llm producers raise the price to what is necessary to generate viable returns.

BTW they need to make enough to finance reinvestment internally… so it’s a lot more than you think. When they raise the price firms will then have to do a deep dive analysis on what to do - for they cannot see operating expenses climb incrementally without seeing revenue and costs of operations go in a favourable direction.

It’s easy when prices are lower than they should be.

Your prediction is missing all this detail. So….

cindyllm 2 hours ago||
[dead]
joshcramer 23 hours ago||
First, it was pencil and paper. Then it was calculators. Then computers! It’s a slippery slope, this technology business.
Traubenfuchs 12 hours ago||
My director expects me to get things done at an accelerated rate. I don't have the time to read code and gain in depth understanding of issues he wants me to fix which requires me to understand multiple repos I have never touched.

I have no choice but let claude explore them for me and return me its summarized understanding. As next step, only claude can apply the required cross repo fixes, not me.

I just don't have the time. Meanwhile my skills as classical programmer atrophy, while my experience with and trust in claude go up...

deterministic 13 hours ago||
I am using AI at work. And it definitely makes me (say) 10% more effective.

However my #1 productivity tool is still a custom code generator I have been using for years. It routinely generates 90+% of the code needed to write a typical biz web application, leaving just the business logic.

No AI. Just straightforward high-level-spec-to-server-client-DB code that is 100% trusted and proven in battle.

bowsamic 13 hours ago||
For me the widespread fear over this is evidence that it’s different from syntax highlighting and stuff
_pdp_ 23 hours ago||
Huberman: Your brain has a region that only grows when you do things you don't want to do

...or as I interpret it your brain grows only when it does things that are difficult.

If you remove the difficulty, it will atrophy into a hum of a mindless chit-chat.

Engineering the data structures and control flows from scratch is a completely different than asking an LLM to scaffold them for you.

clutter55561 23 hours ago||
I love programming, but I don’t love working. I’m about 10 years away from retiring and can’t wait. Does that count? ;-)
operatingthetan 17 hours ago||
Huberman is a grifter.
shevy-java 14 hours ago||
What if the use of AI makes them dumber though?
chromacity 23 hours ago||
Aaand it's the second "AI is bad" story on the front page today that's evidently generated by AI.
avaer 14 hours ago||
I hope it's not reductionist, but this kind of thinking always feels like cope in the face of The Bitter Lesson.
HgT3 20 hours ago|
It doesn't elevate thinking no matter how you use it. It is a lookup tool at best.

For the new prompt engineers I suggest the following title:

  MCSE => Microsoft Certified Slop Engineer
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