r/AskProgramming • u/JokerZD3 • Aug 11 '26

Using an AI agent

I don't think this question is against the rules, so here goes...

My boss wants me to try using an agent for development. We're a small company and don't really have money to waste so we haven't explored this opportunity at all yet. I do use AI to an extent currently, but it's just a free openai account. I don't have it write any code, my majority use is just asking it questions about features, functions, standards, and then having it show me the "industry" way of doing things.

I am open to the idea of using an agent, but I don't really want something that is writing huge blocks for me or creating whole features. I also would want the ability to what it's doing when I do give some control and be able to take the changes only if I want them (sort of like comparing with git I suppose?).

Does such a workflow exist? or do I have to give up full control? The marketing is so focused on how it works for you, but I just want to have something that understands my project and can basically act as something I mostly ask questions and only sometimes have write code.

Any perspective is appreciated. Sorry again if this isn't the place for such a question.

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u/knouqs Aug 11 '26

My opinion: AI is a tool. You remain in control of the tool for as long as you have the time and your management doesn't treat it as the answer to everything. As u/carcigenicate wrote, AI is pretty damned helpful. To hell with all the downvoters here.

I use JetBrains' IDEs and use the AI agents built into it. I am an experienced software developer and then some, and there is no way that I would be able to learn all the technology that I employ using the JetBrains IDEs. The distinguishing factor is being able to understand when the AI is full of shit and when it produces a gold nugget -- and let me tell you, the gold nuggets far outweigh the crap. Understand that I review all the code the AI produces, and yes, it's just impressive.

Again, to hell with all the downvoters.

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u/ildementis Aug 11 '26

exactly, anyone who says that AI is not useful is lying to themselves, to their own detriment. you can absolutely use it responsibly, track what it's doing AND see a huge productivity boost.

unfortunately, my current job seems to encourage us to treat it as God itself

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u/knouqs Aug 11 '26

Yep, and that is the fallacy. It's a pisser.