When AI takes over the coding, a layer of knowledge disappears - not just for the user, but for the builder themselves.

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A short opinion piece reflecting on how AI-assisted coding erodes the 'material consciousness' that software engineers develop through hands-on programming. Drawing on sociologist Richard Sennett's concept of craftspeople having a deep, tactile knowledge of their materials, the author argues that when AI takes over coding, engineers lose their intuitive understanding of how systems work, where limits lie, and what is feasible. The result is a product that becomes a black box, with no human left who can explain why something fails.

Computer Says No