March 14th, 2025

Beyond the 70%: Maximizing the human 30% of AI-assisted coding

AI-assisted coding tools automate 70% of coding tasks, but complex problem-solving and system architecture still require human expertise. Developers must enhance durable skills and embrace continuous learning to thrive.

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Beyond the 70%: Maximizing the human 30% of AI-assisted coding

AI-assisted coding tools have significantly changed software development by automating about 70% of the coding process, primarily handling routine tasks and boilerplate code. However, the remaining 30% of software engineering, which involves complex problem-solving, system architecture, and ensuring code quality, still requires human expertise. Experts emphasize that while AI can generate plausible solutions, it often fails to address edge cases, maintainability, and the overall design of systems. Developers must focus on enhancing their durable skills, such as system design, critical thinking, code review, debugging, and effective communication. These skills are essential for navigating the complexities of software development that AI cannot replicate. As the role of developers evolves, they should embrace AI as a tool to boost productivity while ensuring they maintain a strong foundation in engineering principles. Continuous learning and adaptability are also crucial, as the landscape of AI-assisted development is rapidly changing. Ultimately, the human element remains irreplaceable in software engineering, with skilled developers needed to guide AI outputs and make informed decisions.

- AI tools handle about 70% of coding tasks but struggle with complex problem-solving and system architecture.

- The remaining 30% of software engineering requires human expertise in areas like critical thinking and code quality.

- Developers should focus on enhancing durable skills that AI cannot replicate, such as debugging and system design.

- Continuous learning and adaptability are essential for developers to thrive in an AI-enhanced environment.

- The human element in software engineering remains irreplaceable, emphasizing the need for skilled developers.

Link Icon 5 comments
By @upghost - about 2 months
Is anyone actually getting anything out of AI assisted coding? I find AI autocomplete especially horrible, though the chat interface has been helpful in preventing me from actually learning obscure bash parameters.

In all seriousness though, 2024 DORA report shows that for every 25% of coders adopting AI coding within an organization, delivery throughput reduces by 1.5% and delivery stability reduces by a whopping 7.2%.

(you can sign up to get the report here[1], sorry I don't have a direct link to provide)

[1]: https://cloud.google.com/devops/state-of-devops

By @apwell23 - about 2 months
AI isn't "astonishingly good" at 70% of things. I have to manually check everything it produces and 90% of time it gets something wrong.

I feel like i am living in an alternate reality than these ppl. wtf am i am i missing here. so frustrating reading these sorts of articles.

By @nfRfqX5n - about 2 months
there is this weird addictive thing with AI coding. found myself just sending prompts over and over and hoping the next one would finally get it right. sending a prompt and going and doing something else, but mostly end up with a huge mess
By @godlikeNoob - about 2 months
I think Cursor etc are great for rapid prototyping and cut down the dev cycle from months to days without the need for PMs , the scaling is where the expertise would come in... whether this methodology would work on a complex codebase is debatable, but for startups looking to go from 0 to 1, this is a boon