Seashells, Software, by the Seashore

The words we use to describe the creation of software with AI tools are frequently inaccurate, namely the word “built”. To show this, I’ll construct an analogy between creating software and finding seashells on the beach. Then, we’ll discuss the negative effects of software incorrectly described as “built” with AI tools. SeashellsIf an 8 year old child picks up a seashell at the beach and shows their parent, did they: A) Find the seashell B) Build the seashell The 8 year old should answer A. The seashell was created far in advance of its discovery, through a complicated process involving crustaceans or mollusks (I am not a biologist). Software (2016)If a software developer in 2016 searched Google for a fix to their application and copy pasted code from a forum, did they: A) Find the solution B) Build the solution In 2016, the developer would say that they found the fix. If they told their coworkers as such, they would receive a thumbs up emoji on their code change. Software (2026)In…