A young mobile developer on our team recently shared something many engineers silently feel:
“Do we really have to use AI tools like Cursor or Copilot?
It doesn’t feel like my code anymore.
And when I dig into AI-generated logic, I feel like I’m losing control.”
This wasn’t fear of technology.
It was fear of losing identity.
So I asked him:
“Do you have a washing machine at home?”
“Yes.”
“Do you still wash clothes by hand?”
“No.”
“Then who washed your clothes?”
Long pause.
“…I did.”
Exactly.
Tools Don’t Replace Ownership. They Amplify It.
Think about what really happens with the washing machine example:
- You choose the machine
- You pick the mode
- You add detergent
- You decide what goes in
- You check the result
The machine only removes the repetitive part.
It doesn’t remove:
- Responsibility
- Judgment
- Decision-making
That’s the actual skill.
The Metric Has Changed: Less Typing, More Thinking
For decades, we glorified:
“Look how much code I wrote!”
But today, the real engineering value is in:
- Asking smarter questions
- Spotting bad patterns early
- Changing direction quickly
- Owning the final outcome fully
Typing fast ≠ engineering excellence
Thinking clearly = engineering leadership
AI isn’t replacing that
AI is demanding more of it.
AI Doesn’t Reduce Your Control. It Raises It.
The shift already started:
From: How do I write this logic?
To: Is this logic even right?
That higher-level thinking becomes the job.
AI handles the boilerplate.
You handle the judgment.
Developers Who Win Won’t Fear AI — They Will Direct It
Yes, AI can:
- Generate functions
- Refactor code
- Automate patterns
- Speed up delivery
But AI still cannot:
- Understand business nuance
- Foresee unintended consequences
- Navigate ethical/exposure risk
- Take responsibility when things break
That accountability stays with… us.
At a higher level than ever before.
A Better Way to Look at It
We didn’t lose dignity when washing machines arrived.
We gained back our time.
Same with AI:
AI writes code faster.
You make smarter decisions.
AI handles syntax.
You focus on outcomes.
AI takes the grunt work.
You take the credit.
Final Thought
Your value has never been in keystrokes.
Your value is in your judgment.
Let AI handle the parts that slow you down.
You handle the parts that move the product forward.
AI may write the code.
But you write the future.
Follow Mohamed Yaseen for more insights.
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