TLDR: Cognitive debt arises when software production outpaces understanding, as AI tools decouple coding from comprehension. Engineers may ship features quickly but struggle to grasp their systems, leading to latent knowledge deficits and reliability risks. Traditional metrics focus on velocity but overlook comprehension, creating pressure for output over understanding. This gap can lead to burnout, a decline in tacit knowledge, and significant future costs, as teams fail to adapt to the loss of deep system knowledge. Effective measurement must evolve to capture comprehension, or organizations risk compounded cognitive debt.
https://www.rockoder.com/beyondthecode/cognitive-debt-when-velocity-exceeds-comprehension/