AI in Software Development: an Assistant, not a Replacement

Today, it’s easy to find promises of “fully automated software development”, systems that can design, describe, and even build a product on their own. At Reqode, we see it differently. For us, AI is an assistant, not a replacement. Its real value is in reducing routine work, speeding up iterations, and helping professionals stay focused on what really matters.

Human control is essential

Software development is not a linear process. Each step depends on project context, architecture, business goals, and lessons learned from past projects. A human expert understands trade-offs — what works for one system can be completely wrong for another. AI does not have that depth of context. That’s why every important step must include human confirmation. Without this feedback loop, an error made early in the process can easily waste hours of automated work.

We’re skeptical about scenarios where AI runs for hours with no supervision. For example, generating a full system specification from scratch. Yes, it can produce a lot of text, but that doesn’t mean it’s correct or useful in the end.

How we approach this at Reqode

In Reqode, every AI task is isolated and focused whether it’s generating requirements, analyzing tests, or updating code. Each assistant has a specific goal and produces the right kind of artifact, with structure, attributes, and links to other elements. But the final decision always belongs to a human.

We also use MCP to connect Reqode with AI coding agents. These agents can validate and update code according to requirements, keeping everything — requirements, tests, and code — aligned. Automation helps, but never takes control.

Smart automation instead of full autonomy

We believe that in software development, AI should augment people, not replace them. This doesn’t mean AI can’t work autonomously in other areas. For example, in customer support or data processing, automation can go much deeper. But when it comes to engineering decisions, where accuracy and context matter, humans must stay in the loop.

The future is collaboration

AI assistants will soon be part of every stage of development. From discovery and  requirement analysis to testing and delivery. But at key points, people will always make the final call. This is what we call responsible automation: AI handles the routine, and humans keep the meaning and direction.

In the end, it’s not about "software developers will no longer be needed". It’s about building better software — together.