Opinion: AI is a capable tool, not a transformative force—and disagreement on its value reflects how differently people use it.

The New York Times profiled Medvi and reported they're on track to make $1.8 billion this year, while Microsoft claims at least 30% of their code is AI-generated; however, GitHub logged 89 incidents in 90 days.

The author views AI as a practical instrument whose value depends on specific use cases, not on its theoretical capabilities—comparing it to a stud finder at a hardware store that matters only for the job at hand.

There is no clean consensus on whether AI works because developers report sharply different outcomes: one produces 30,000 lines of code per month while another says AI is ineffective, each with evidence backing their position.