You Cannot Outsource Understanding

Overview This Substack article by Russ Miles argues that organizations should not aim to replace developers with AI, but rather build platforms and practices that enhance developers' deep understanding of code and systems.

Key Takeaways

• Outsourcing understanding reduces long-term productivity and innovation.
• AI should be used to augment, not replace, human insight.
• Effective platforms empower developers to retain context and ownership.
• Leadership must focus on cultural and procedural changes, not just tools.

Who Would Benefit

• Engineering managers looking to integrate AI responsibly.
• Technical leaders who want to improve team autonomy.
• Developers concerned about AI-driven job displacement.
• Product leaders shaping development tooling strategies.

Frameworks and Methodologies

• No specific framework is named, but the article emphasizes principles of developer empowerment and platform thinking.