WorkThe story, in brief

What we lost the last time code got cheap

The last time code got cheap, we lost something we didn't expect. History is repeating.

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People, judgement and the changing nature of work.AI illustration by KeyNews
The KeyNews take

Why it matters

As AI-powered coding tools commoditize software development, leaders need to understand the hidden costs of automation—what gets lost when barriers to entry collapse and craft disappears from engineering culture.

The key facts

4 to know
  1. Historical parallel: previous commoditization of code had unexpected societal/professional consequences

  2. Relevant to AI economy: AI coding agents are rapidly reducing friction and cost of code generation

  3. Audience concern: implications for engineering culture, skill degradation, market saturation, and long-term professional value

  4. Published May 2026 (future-dated or hypothetical context)

Go to the source

Hacker Newspoppastring.com

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