AI-Assisted Coding: Why a Distinguished Engineer Stopped Reading Code

8 hours ago

Philip Su argues the individual contributor role is ending as engineers shift to managing AI agents rather than writing code.
He proposes 'lights-out codebases' where no human edits source code, comparing human code review to having chess masters check AI moves.
Productivity gains from AI create bottlenecks in planning and coordination, similar to having 100 engineers with one PM and designer.
Philip emphasizes hands-on experience with AI tools over theoretical knowledge to develop effective judgment and integration.
His career includes roles at Microsoft, Meta, OpenAI, and now solo building Superphonic, with unconventional experiences like working an Amazon warehouse job.

Hasty Briefsbeta