AI Is Making Software Faster. But Is It Making Decisions Better?

AI has revolutionized software development, making it faster to generate code, prototype, debug, document and solve technical problems. Businesses are now able to create more software in less time. However, a crucial question arises: with AI making the execution process cheaper, will making the right decisions on which software to create become increasingly important? This article explores the implications of AI on software development and the role of human judgment in decision making.

Although AI coding tools have made significant progress in assisting developers by generating code, building databases, testing, fixing bugs, and automating processes, the creation of too many prototypes can lead to unnecessary distractions. AI makes it easier to generate ideas, but it does not necessarily translate to making better decisions. The key step in software development lies in convergence - narrowing down the field of ideas and selecting which ones to actually build. This is where human judgment comes into play.

AI can assist in exploring various possibilities, comparing alternatives, finding risks, analyzing competitors, recommending features, and questioning assumptions. However, convergence often involves judgment, as it requires knowledge of the customer, market, business constraints, timing, risk, available resources, and opportunity cost.

Human judgment is essential in deciding whether an idea matters to clients, whether the pain point is significant, whether the market is interesting, and whether it aligns with the overall strategy.

Faster software execution through AI can provide a strategic advantage by enabling rapid prototyping and validation. However, speed should not come at the cost of validation. A great strategy involves exploring fast, eliminating ruthlessly, prototyping inexpensively, testing with users, and then developing thoroughly. While AI can improve every step of this process, humans still have to make the final decision on which avenue to pursue.

Ultimately, AI has made software creation faster, but the real value lies in good judgment. As AI becomes smarter and more powerful, the bottleneck for many businesses may shift from engineering capabilities to attention and judgment. Companies that can explore extensively, converge intelligently, and make strategic decisions on what to create will be the ones who reap the benefits of AI in software development.