Working with AI Feels More Like Leadership Than Coding

A software engineer reflects on how AI collaboration mirrors leading a team, not programming a machine. The same request can yield different results, making predictability a thing of the past. The key, they argue, is to treat AI as a collaborator: share context, explain desired outcomes, and refine instructions over time. This shift demands better communication of intent, not just technical commands, turning software work into a conversational leadership exercise.