Had an interesting discussion with a colleague about AI.

Companies investing in AI are seeking to turn software development to manufacture code. They look to adopt a factory model to generate software focused on producing features, using automation and reducing the number of "skilled" workers to a small team.

Traditional software development is more craftsmanship.  It's slower, but more thoughtful and there's generally a reason it costs more. It's also where there can be a lot of creativity and innovation.

What I found really interesting, is that thinking about AI as Manufacturing is really interesting to me. The reason that the US is so far behind right now is because we have lost our Tool & Die industry. That's work that you can't automate, and it generally tends to be more of a craft, since you're not producing hundreds of dies. China is particularly good at Tool & Die, which is why all manufacturing now happens there.

Senior Devs are the Tool & Die of Software. We're not replacing them as they leave.

Again, all of this is both sad and hilarious to me. We USA folk keep trying to find new ways to self sabotage.

(edit: typo)