The Phantom (AI) Menace

Tags: AI

Having navigated through multiple technological revolutions, the current AI wave feels both intoxicatingly novel and hauntingly familiar. The ability to leverage Large Language Models has become as fundamental as math across all engineering disciplines and really, across virtually every professional field. This transformation feels larger than personal computing or the Internet. In those, work and society underwent dramatic reshaping, with those unable to adapt finding themselves left behind or without a job. Yet after the initial disruption, new opportunities emerged, society evolved, and we got into an (arguably) better place.

There is a particularly intriguing aspect in this transformation, especially within the tech community. Some perceive AI as a menace to software development itself, suggesting that traditional engineering roles are going away. With two extreme viewpoints: either a single Staff/Principal engineer can command an army of AI coders, or junior developers can simply "prompt" their way to enterprise-ready applications. The era of experienced Jedi engineers keeping the order in the realm while mentoring eager Padawans in the ways of the (tech) force seems to be fading. Instead, some organizations envision a future where engineering teams are replaced by the all-knowing Sith Lord overseeing AI coding agents, with a single apprentice waiting in the wings to inherit the throne.

This push toward centralization isn't entirely new, though the current rush feels more intense. For decades, consulting firms have been persuading enterprises to treat software development as a commodity and engineers as interchangeable labor. Massive outsourcing deals and ERP deployments promised to solve all technological challenges while reducing costs, allowing companies to refocus on core business operations. Over time, many top engineers migrated to (the dark side) these consulting firms, leading to the loss of critical internal knowledge and competitive advantages. These advantages became diluted within standardized systems designed for economies of scale rather than individual client needs. Promises were not delivered, battles were lost, dark times followed.

A select few organizations recognized that technology wasn't just a business function, it was the business. These companies understood that every company was now a tech company. With their success and lead software engineering flourished, driving innovation, novel designs, and groundbreaking research. I believe we'll see a similar pattern with AI. While we might experience a period of stagnation due to lack of new engineering and seclusion, and solutions become homogenized diluting once again competitive advantages, this phase will eventually give way to a new appreciation for human innovation. After the initial hype, loss of value, uncertainty, and adaptation period, forward-thinking organizations will rediscover the value of human creativity and expertise. AI will evolve into a powerful collaborator, working side-to-side with human engineers to transform society and propel humanity toward a more advanced future.