Communication quality, not coding speed, is the biggest hidden cost in software estimates; AI tools don't reduce this tax, so leaders must focus on clear early collaboration.
Estimating a greenfield product landed us a 12-20 week range after a half-hour planning session, only to be sidetracked by AI hype. We wondered if code-generation could shave weeks off, but the core estimate stayed the same because the real bottleneck isn't writing code.
The article shows that AI can produce code quickly, yet it cannot replace discovery, client feedback loops, or the nuanced decisions that shape a product. The biggest surprise was that communication breakdowns can double the effort required, with unclear requirements and delayed feedback causing massive rework.
A concrete case: a client who kept stakeholders aligned and avoided scope creep let the team finish at about 75% of the budget, proving that early, focused collaboration trims hidden costs. Starting with a small, low-risk engagement lets teams surface communication patterns before committing to larger estimates.
The takeaway for technical leaders is clear: invest time up-front to align expectations, clarify requirements, and set up feedback rhythms. AI may accelerate code output, but without strong communication the estimate tax remains, and projects still suffer delays and wasted effort.
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