Code Was Never Deterministic (medium.com)

A recent discussion in the AI/ML community has highlighted a critical misunderstanding regarding the nature of AI-generated code, particularly the argument that it's non-deterministic compared to traditional compilers. The discussion emphasizes that software reliability has always depended more on the surrounding verification processes than on the determinism of the code generation itself. The author draws parallels between the evolution of high-level programming languages and the current transition to AI-assisted development, suggesting that engineers should shift their focus from line-by-line code reviews to validating behavior and intent through improved verification mechanisms. This shift represents a significant change for the software engineering landscape, as organizations increasingly adopt "intent-based development" practices. By automating the verification process and reducing the need for detailed code reviews, AI can enhance productivity. The key takeaway is that the AI-generated code isn't inherently less reliable; rather, the verification infrastructure must adapt to focus on behavioral outputs rather than the deterministic nature of the code itself. As industry giants invest heavily in these new pipelines, the future of software development will likely center around refining and enabling this abstraction, allowing engineers to concentrate on defining high-level specifications.