AI boosts developer productivity but causes hidden costs, such as cognitive debt and skill erosion. Over-reliance on AI diminishes understanding and creates a disconnect between junior and senior engineers, threatening the seniority pipeline and leading to burnout. Effective AI usage requires balance; while it improves tasks like code navigation and scaffolding, excessive dependence risks loss of critical skills and oversight. The challenge lies in determining the right threshold for AI integration without sacrificing essential development practices and cognitive abilities.
https://tomwojcik.com/posts/2026-02-15/finding-the-right-amount-of-ai/