Coding Was Never the Hard Part: What I Wish Every Business Leader Knew About AI (koushikdasika.com)

The article emphasizes the need for business leaders to grasp the complexities of engineering as AI tools like Claude Code and OpenAI Codex reshape software development. While these AI advancements promise significant productivity gains, they often overlook the nuanced process of engineering, where coding represents only about 20% of the overall effort. The majority of an engineer’s time is spent on research, planning, and troubleshooting, leading to the conclusion that even a 50% increase in coding speed yields a mere 7% improvement in productivity due to what's known as Amdahl’s Law. Significantly, the author highlights the importance of context in engineering decisions, which AI lacks, pointing out that many real-world factors influence coding beyond what AI can predict. There’s also a warning against assuming that more engineers will automatically lead to faster results, as variance in skills and the potential for negative contributions are real challenges in the field. The article advocates for better understanding and communication between business and engineering, emphasizing the need for a balance between speed and quality to avoid long-term technical debt and ensure sustainable growth.