Coding Complete Apps with AI

If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.
—Seneca, Epistolae, LXXI., 3.

This quote by Seneca reminded me of non-developers who say they can “vibe code” a complete production-ready app using AI in a couple of hours. Perhaps the app is just a commodity, something that has been already done before.

It’s true, AI has become an indispensable assistant in software development and other fields. In skilled hands, it’s like a Stradivarius violin, it can produce astonishing results. But left on its own, it’s not yet ready to compose the symphony, or perform solo in front of a live audience.

We can’t trust AI to develop on its own complete systems for anything critical, not yet. Not for driving your car, not for doing brain surgery, prescribing drugs, or even running your company operations.

There is a difference between using AI as a tool for development and outsourcing judgment to it. AI is no replacement for knowing your trade. We’ll probably get there, but we are not there yet.