The Tower Keeps Rising

This article reflects on the impact of AI-assisted programming (vibecoded software) on large-scale software development. Drawing a parallel to Bruegel's 'The Tower of Babel', the author argues that while AI agents dramatically increase individual productivity, they undermine the shared understanding and coordination essential for complex projects. The 'friction' of traditional development—reading code, asking questions, coordinating—synchronizes team members. Removing this friction risks chaos, as independent agent changes may compile but erode collective system knowledge. The piece is a thoughtful tech industry analysis relevant to software engineering, DevOps, and team dynamics.