In the rush to adopt AI, too many companies treat LLMs like magic code generators. They skip the architecture and go straight to execution.
As a Senior Engineer, I’ve learned that AI is a force multiplier, but only if you steer it with architectural rigor. Otherwise, you just build the wrong solution faster.
I recently ran an AI planning session that saved me from that exact trap. I didn’t write a single line of code. Instead, I pressure-tested my assumptions.
Here is the framework I use to ensure AI delivers business value, not just code snippets:
1️⃣ Outcomes Over Outputs
Most teams ask AI to “build a feature.” I align it on business constraints first.
The Prompt: “We need to ensure seamless data synchronization across the mobile ecosystem without breaking legacy integrations.”
The Win: By forcing the AI to analyze the constraints first, we uncovered a critical edge case in our initial assumption. If we had just started coding, we wouldn’t have found it until production.
2️⃣ The “Reflect Back” Protocol
Misalignment costs money. I treat the AI chat like a contract: I force the AI to generate a prompt summarizing the problem back to me.
The Rule: If the AI can’t articulate the goal clearly to me, it definitely can’t code it for me.
The Win: This acts as cheap insurance against building the wrong solution.
3️⃣ Senior Intuition is the Guardrail
AI is excellent at syntax, but it lacks “gut instinct.” I use my 8 years of experience to challenge the AI’s logic.
The Prompt: “My gut says this architecture won’t scale for [X] user base. What would a Principal Engineer warn us about?”
The Win: This helps articulate risks that are often “felt” by seniors but missed by automated tools.
The Takeaway: AI doesn’t replace senior leadership; it demands it. If you want to integrate AI into your B2B2C platform without technical debt, you need a strategy that puts goals before code.
We are entering a new era where coding is cheap, but clarity is expensive.
👇 I think AI makes the role of Software Architect 10x more important than Senior Coder over the next 5 years. Do you agree, or am I overvaluing the planning phase?
Originally posted on LinkedIn