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Why I Stopped Using AI As a Senior Software Engineer
Working in big tech is a unique blend of exhilarating problem-solving and relentless pressure to innovate. Over the years, tools promising to revolutionize software engineering have come and gone. When AI-based coding assistants like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and others entered the scene, they were heralded as game-changers, capable of saving time, reducing errors, and accelerating development cycles.
As a Senior Software Engineer, I eagerly integrated these tools into my workflow. Initially, I experienced promising results: faster code generation, automation of repetitive tasks, and reduced debugging times. However, over time, I began noticing subtle yet significant drawbacks, which ultimately led me to stop using AI in my day-to-day development.
The Honeymoon Phase: AI at Its Best
When I first started using AI tools, they felt like a superpower. I could describe complex functionality in plain English, and the AI would provide concise, functional code within seconds. Repetitive tasks were automated, and I found myself saving hours of effort every week.
Example: API Development Made Easy
While building an internal tool for a large-scale data pipeline, I relied on an AI assistant to scaffold API endpoints in Node.js. It effortlessly generated CRUD operations and even suggested edge case tests I hadn’t considered.
This early experience was transformative. AI became my go-to for handling:
- Boilerplate Code: Eliminating repetitive work in CRUD, validations, and test generation.
- Code Comments: Generating docstrings or explaining complex functions.
- Refactoring Suggestions: Simplifying convoluted logic for better readability and performance.
The efficiency gains were undeniable, and I began to wonder how I had worked without AI.
The Slow Creep of Complacency
However, as my reliance on AI grew, I began noticing a subtle but troubling shift in my coding habits. AI’s instant solutions encouraged me to skip critical steps like deeply understanding the problem domain or thoroughly designing my solutions.
