A number of threads are converging:
Coding assistants like GitHub Copilot, Codeium, Cursor, and Replit Ghostwriter are integrated directly into IDEs – or in some cases, are the IDEs.
Autonomous agents or agent environments that can generate and execute code, like Microsoft Magentic-One or Langflow .
Application generation environments like Replit takes this even further, generating full applications from natural language prompts and deploying them with just a few clicks.
I have written previously about technical debt and GenAI choices and when you add on Shadow GenAI the situation becomes even more complex. The accessibility of Generative AI (GenAI) tools means that everyone can innovate like never before. However, this surge in un-monitored GenAI usage, often referred to as “Shadow AI”, combined with GenAI only now starting to come down from the ‘Peak of Inflated Expectations’ can lead to significant challenges, including the accumulation of technical debt within organisations.
Generative AI (GenAI) is full of potential, but like any rapidly evolving technology, it carries the risk of technical debt. Making the right decisions now can prevent future headaches. Let’s explore how you can be shrewd about your GenAI investments.