Why AI raises the bar for software engineers, not lowers it

AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT are changing how engineers work. But not in the way most people think.

Some assume that as AI gets better at generating code, the job of a software engineer gets easier. You don’t need to write everything from scratch. You can “vibe” your way through a feature. In some ways, that’s true. But that doesn’t mean the bar for performance is lower.

In reality, AI is pushing expectations higher.

The common misconception

A lot of engineers, especially those early in their careers, have started to wonder if AI changes the playing field. It feels easier to get started. You can scaffold a project with Copilot, search docs faster with ChatGPT, and fill in gaps without reading every word of a tutorial. It’s tempting to think that maybe you don’t need to know as much as you used to.

But while AI can help you move faster, it doesn’t replace your judgment. And in high-stakes roles, judgment matters more than ever.

Evaluating AI output takes senior-level thinking

Reading and understanding code has always been a critical skill. With AI in the mix, it’s now the most important one. AI can generate output, but you have to interpret it. If you don’t deeply understand the problem you’re solving, or the tradeoffs in different solutions, you’re going to struggle.

The rise of AI has introduced a false sense of security. Engineers can get Copilot to generate code that compiles and appears to work. But that doesn’t mean it’s the right approach, or even secure.

When you use AI, you still have to:

• Evaluate what the AI gave you
• Understand why it works (or doesn’t)
• Adapt it to your specific use case
• Catch the bugs it didn’t see

And those skills all come back to fundamentals.

In fact, reading and understanding code is often harder than writing it. Especially now. Because when you’re pairing with an AI tool, you’re not starting from a blank page. You’re stepping into someone else’s logic. You need to trace its decisions, spot where things go off track, and know when to redirect.

Using AI effectively means thinking like a senior engineer, even if you’re not one yet.

How to level up in an AI-driven world

AI doesn’t replace the need for core skills; it just changes the way those skills show up in your work. If you want to grow as an engineer right now, focus on skills that help you work with AI instead of relying on it. 

Here’s how to build that kind of fluency:

• Practice reading code. The better you are at reading and understanding what code is doing and why it was written that way, the easier it is to evaluate AI output.
• Expand your internal library of code patterns. When you’ve seen more systems, designs, and solutions, you develop better intuition. 
• Get better at communicating what the code is doing. Whether you're pairing with another engineer or reviewing AI-generated code, your ability to explain why a piece of code works and why it's a good or bad choice becomes a superpower. Communication has always mattered, but it's even more critical when you're collaborating with a tool that can't explain itself.
• Practice debugging and refactoring. Most of the work isn’t in writing the first version; it’s in cleaning it up, adjusting for edge cases, and making it easier to understand. These are the skills that make you a valuable engineer on a team.

AI raises the floor and the ceiling

AI tools are changing the engineering landscape. They make it easier to get started, but also easier to get stuck if you don’t know what you’re doing.

For engineers with strong skills, AI is a multiplier. It speeds you up, extends your reach, and lets you build more with less. But if your foundation is shaky, AI will amplify the gaps.

The best way to future-proof your career isn’t to rely on AI. It’s to build the skills that make AI useful. That’s why we focus so heavily on fundamentals at Formation, and why we believe interview prep isn’t goes beyond getting hired, so you can be a better engineer.

Learn how to level up with AI

If you're exploring how to use AI more effectively in your work, you're not alone. That’s why we built Ship with AI — a program for senior engineers who want to work more efficiently and improve their skills, with AI as a collaborator. 

Learn more and apply here.