I’ve noticed that AI-augmented development does not take you further than what you already know. It just takes you there faster.
Picture a developer who knows nothing about design patterns and is using the latest state-of-the-art AI tools, prompting something like: “Implement this X feature and use the correct design pattern.”
Most likely, the result will not use the correct design pattern. It will instead implement it like a student who previously pushed similar code to GitHub.
Another risk is the AI false confidence trap.
The false confidence trap happens when someone relies heavily on AI-generated results without understanding the underlying concepts. It often gives the impression that the user has learned more than they actually have.
The risk is not only that they speak shit. It is that they speak shit with confidence because the AI said so.
The more you mature in software development, the more you start to value the fundamentals.
At the beginning, many principles can look obvious or too simple to deserve much attention. With experience, you begin to understand that these principles are not shallow. Applying them consistently becomes more difficult as systems grow and complexity increases.
John Maeda described a similar idea through Karate:
“In the martial art of Karate, the symbol of pride for a black belt is to wear it long enough such that the dye fades to white, symbolizing a return to the beginner state.”
The white belt at the beginning represents someone who knows very little. The faded black belt represents someone who has learned deeply but returned to the mindset of a beginner, curious, humble, and focused on the basics.
Software development often follows the same path.
You begin with the fundamentals, then move towards advanced tools, patterns, and techniques. After enough experience, you often return to the fundamentals, but with a much deeper understanding of why they matter.
What has changed with the AI hype is that many Karate beginners are being handed black belts before earning them. The black dye is fake and permanent. It does not fade because it was never produced through practice, learning, and real experience.
Some have traded learning opportunities and real experience for speed, convenience, and ego.
Do not get me wrong. I am not saying that everyone using AI is wearing a fake black belt. AI can help experienced developers move faster, and it can help beginners learn when they use it with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to verify what it produces.
The fake black belt belongs to those who use AI to skip the learning process, while adopting the confidence and authority of someone who has already gone through it.