AI hype is masking real software engineering challenges, warns developer

A software engineer with experience in AI since 2018 argues that the current generative AI boom is producing widespread hype and misleading claims about what the technology can replace. He warns that building a working application quickly should not be confused with proper software engineering, which also encompasses security, scalability, testing, and maintainability. The author stresses that technology choices — whether AI, cloud architecture, or programming languages — must be driven by context and trade-offs, not trends. He raises concerns that teams are rushing to add AI without first asking critical questions around data privacy, regulatory compliance, model reliability, and actual business need. His broader point is that the same mistakes made during past technology waves, such as microservices and cloud adoption, are now being repeated with artificial intelligence.