Where Does the Foundation Come From?

Abstract

AI can compress, but not replace AI-assisted development is now the default expectation for new software engineers, but the productivity it delivers depends on professional judgment, and AI is taking over exactly the work that used to develop that judgment. Drawing on two vantage points—teaching software engineering at Boston University and leading an internship program at Digits, an AI-forward financial technology (fintech) startup—in this article I trace what happened when new graduates were handed the same agentic tooling as senior engineers and why the fix was a phased on ramp that compressed a decades-long career arc into weeks. For engineers with grounding, AI is a multiplier; without it, AI creates a productivity illusion in which output outpaces understanding. The article argues that universities and companies share one obligation: Embrace AI in education and onboarding, but introduce it in an intentional sequence, and assess the understanding polished output cannot prove, so the foundation gets built rather than bypassed.