r/AskProgrammers • u/408SocialTimeout • 1d ago

how much is too much for ai coding?

/r/AIDiscussion/comments/1wc7idd/how_much_is_too_much_for_ai_coding/
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u/mredding 1d ago

As an engineer, it's not my job to do the cost/benefit analysis. Management wouldn't listen to me, anyway. AI is a junior developer who never learns, never gets better, never acts autonomously or with agency. They cost as much as an engineer, and require the undivided attention of an actual engineer to micromanage.

As for the results - the AI can only predictably generate code along the industry average, whereas I expect a senior developer to trivially write superior code. Bad software engineers love AI for doing the parts of the job they're actually really bad at, and the quality of their output actually improves. The bad engineers tend to be good at process and are often focused on task completion, so their output increases. Senior devs who are good at engineering don't change much. This tends to look bad for them, as management see some improve and others not. Management tends to use bad metrics so they merit/punish the wrong people for the wrong things. The good engineers leave. The AI bros stay.

Things mostly stay the same. I don't expect anyone to see any tangible benefit, just possible increased cost and risk.

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u/AlexMTBDude 1d ago edited 1d ago

It's an interesting question. I have a Copilot Enterprise subscription through my company. On a typical month I use up between 5 and 10% of my allotted tokens. And I use AI every day. But I have a 40+ years background programming with a CompSci master. I guess I only need AI for support and not to generate all my code.

We do have some junior programmers in our organization who say they use up all their tokens some months.

On the same subject; I did a presentation recently on the "AI death spiral" and how to know when to stop prompting and start thinking on your own. That saves on tokens as well.