Coding Is Not Solved: Why AI Cannot Replace Engineering Rigor

Alex Ewerlöf argues that AI has not solved software engineering, emphasizing that writing code is primarily a process of clarifying thought rather than merely producing syntax. Generating massive amounts of AI-written code creates overwhelming volumes that disrupt traditional code review and introduce subtle context-blind bugs. This perspective counters the hype that AI coding assistants will swiftly eliminate the need for human software engineers. As code generation speeds up, engineering teams face growing risks regarding code maintainability, system context loss, and accountability when AI-generated code fails. When AI assistants make unstated assumptions without understanding broader architectural context, they introduce subtle flaws that isolated snippet tests cannot catch. Furthermore, the sheer volume of AI-generated output renders traditional peer code reviews virtually impossible for human reviewers to execute effectively.