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Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft. Views are my own.
- What did the computer do when it was hungry? … .. . Had a byte to eat.
- Remember the fear of asking a “stupid” question early in your career? I do. As an intern, I was often scared to ask questions. I was afraid of appearing inexperienced or dumb -- even though I had good managers, I was still nervous. Today, juniors have a partner who won’t judge: AI.
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View full thread- Finally, validate with someone more experienced if you still have any uncertainty or ambiguity. It's a win-win. Juniors can practice asking questions AND navigating solutions. Seniors are (less) overwhelmed with trivial questions.
- What have you suggested for junior engineers to try out with AI tools?
- But there’s a catch. AI is non-judgmental (unless you get a sassy one), but it's also not always correct. Juniors who develop the skill of challenging AI can become critical thinkers faster. It's an excellent opportunity to push back and question what's being presented to them.
- Even when I'm using AI for new territory for me, I try to make sure I'm questioning it! My suggestion for junior devs would be: - Ask AI questions you’re afraid to ask your seniors. - Take the AI-generated solution, then dissect it: What parts make sense? What parts seem unclear?