The ladder is missing rungs – Engineering Progression When AI Ate the Middle (negroniventurestudios.com) AI

A talk transcript argues that while AI coding tools can write large amounts of code, they are changing software engineering’s “ladder” by reducing the learning and judgment typically built through years of writing, debugging, and reviewing. The author cites research suggesting AI-assisted work can reduce long-term mastery and create a “supervision paradox,” where effective oversight depends on skills that atrophy with overuse. They also highlight signs that teams may move faster on tasks but spend more time reviewing, and question where the next generation of engineers will come from if training shifts away from human coding practice.