AI Doesn't Make Engineers 10x More Productive (Busting the Myth)

This article debunks the widespread claim that AI increases engineer productivity by 10x or even 100x. The author, after experimenting with various AI coding tools, found that while AI excels at boilerplate code, it struggles with complex projects, large codebases, and less popular libraries, often introducing security vulnerabilities. The author argues that AI boosts are incremental and don't scale linearly. True productivity gains stem from preventing unnecessary work, not just faster coding. The author concludes that claims of 10x AI-driven productivity gains are likely driven by misunderstanding, vested interests, or managerial pressure, urging engineers not to feel anxious due to such inflated claims.