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Anderson Contreira
Anderson Contreira

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AI-Generated Code: Is It Good or Bad?

Developers should stop wasting time debating whether AI-generated code is “good” or “bad” and start focusing on how to use it intelligently and responsibly.

AI does not replace technical knowledge or engineering experience. What it does is act as a high-leverage tool that expands your ability to deliver, explore, validate and learn. When used with proper supervision, AI becomes a powerful ally rather than a threat.

A Strong Support Tool, Not a Substitute for Skill

AI can accelerate your work in multiple ways. It can help you understand unfamiliar code patterns, explore different implementation strategies, and create examples that serve as a starting point for your own solution.

Imagine you need to maintain a legacy Angular application and have no idea how to write a unit test for a specific scenario. You can ask AI for an example in a similar context and, from there, build your own test in a confident and structured way.

The same applies to repetitive or tedious tasks. AI is incredibly efficient at:

  • Converting static HTML templates into React components
  • Generating boilerplate code or repetitive scaffolding
  • Suggesting autocomplete solutions that save hours of manual work
  • Refactoring or reorganizing legacy code in a clearer direction

In the past, we relied exclusively on Stack Overflow, documentation or trial-and-error. Today, AI can enhance that workflow, but the developer is still responsible for validating, adapting and making informed decisions.

Validating Ideas, PoVs and Even PoCs

One of the most undervalued advantages of AI-generated code is rapid experimentation.

When supervised by an experienced developer, AI is extremely useful for:

  • Validating early ideas for a Proof of Value (PoV)
  • Creating quick Proof-of-Concepts (PoCs) to test hypotheses
  • Experimenting with new technologies, frameworks or architectures
  • Comparing approaches before committing to a final implementation

This is especially valuable in environments where speed matters, such as consulting, prototyping, startup development or innovation labs. AI shortens the learning curve and allows you to explore alternatives without spending days reading documentation or building everything from scratch.

It does not replace the engineering that comes afterwards, but it helps you discover the right direction faster.

The Real Point: AI Gives You More Time to Think

The central issue is not whether AI-generated code is perfect. It never will be, and it doesn’t need to be.

The point is that AI allows developers to shift their focus from low-value manual tasks to higher-value reasoning. You gain time to:

  • Understand the business problem
  • Improve architecture and design
  • Write tests and ensure reliability
  • Think strategically rather than fight syntax

Good developers do not fear AI. They use it as leverage.

Final Thoughts

AI is not the enemy, and it is not magic either. It is a tool. A powerful one. When used with supervision, responsibility and technical awareness, it accelerates learning, boosts productivity and helps you explore solutions faster.

Use AI as a strategic partner. Automate what is repetitive. Learn from the examples. Validate ideas quickly. And focus your energy where it truly matters: solving real problems in an intelligent and thoughtful way.

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