The Hidden Cost of AI-Generated Code: Cognitive Debt and Intent Debt

"I define cognitive debt as being that understanding of what the system is doing and why, and who knows what across the team." In this episode of the HangarDX podcast, Ankit Jain, co-founder and CEO of Aviator, talks to Dr. Margaret-Anne Storey, Professor of Computer Science and Canada Research Chair, about- Why AI is amplifying the problems of poor team understanding- How cognitive debt and intent debt are the hidden risks of building fast with AI, and - Why slowing down might be the most important engineering practice in the age of agents.00:00 Introduction to Developer Experience and Margaret's Background02:11 Exploring the SPACE Framework vs. DORA06:55 Subjectivity in Measuring Developer Productivity12:15 Impact of AI on Developer Collaboration and Productivity16:54 Understanding Cognitive and Intent Debt22:42 Understanding Cognitive Debt in Software Development26:36 The Impact of Intent Debt on Development28:07 Measuring Cognitive and Intent Debt32:20 The Role of AI in Amplifying Challenges37:24 Balancing Speed and Understanding in Development📫 Sign up to our email list for more podcasts, articles, events, and other updates: https://www.aviator.co/podcast✏️ Subscribe for more videos: @Aviator-Co🙌 Join a curated community of senior engineers and engineering leaders focused on developer experience and solving productivity challenges at scale! Check out our upcoming off-the-record online sessions where vetted, experienced professionals can exchange ideas and share hard-earned wisdom: https://dx.community/