

Mastering AI and Career
May 30, 2025
Greg and Fred dive into how AI is reshaping careers and the engineering landscape. They explore the vanishing concept of 'paying dues' in the industry and why asking the right questions matters more than the technology itself. The discussion highlights the challenges of trusting autonomous agents and the importance of foundational knowledge for effective AI application. They also tackle the intricacies of engineering governance through a real-life construction case, emphasizing the need for ethical safeguards in AI-driven decision-making.
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Inexperience Leads to AI Over-Reliance
- Young, less experienced software engineers rely on AI much more and lack deep understanding.
- Senior engineers use AI more tactically because they've mastered fundamentals over years.
From Punch Cards to Vibe Coding
- Greg shifted from punch cards to low/no-code AI-assisted "vibe coding" over his career.
- He stresses the need for base knowledge to effectively craft AI prompts.
AI Lacks Engineering Context
- AI tools can produce output quickly but lack deep understanding of context like critical tolerances in designs.
- Without knowing why tolerances matter, AI-generated solutions risk serious flaws in products.