“Engineers are becoming sorcerers” | The future of software development with OpenAI’s Sherwin Wu
Guests: Sherwin Wu
In-depth read · Key ideas, reasoning, and examples, organized by topic.
§01Engineering After Code
Wu describes an engineering organization where AI writes most code and reviews every pull request. The measurable claim is that 95% of engineers use Codex and engineers who use it more open 70% more pull requests, although he distinguishes those observations from a claim that every production line is AI-authored.
The new role resembles technical leadership over a fleet of agents. Engineers must steer parallel work, supply context, review outputs, and prevent agents from drifting. Wu uses the wizard and Sorcerer's Apprentice metaphors to capture both the leverage and the danger: high-powered instructions can make software do far more, but unattended work can run out of control.
Keep reading as a member.
You've read the free preview. Become a member to read the rest, with side-by-side reading and downloads where available.