The Black Box Problem: Why AI-Generated Code Stops Being Maintainable

AI-generated code often leads to a 'black box' problem where initial productivity gains are lost due to poor maintainability. This code tends to be monolithic, with implicit dependencies and unclear contracts, making it difficult to safely review, test, or modify. The proposed solution is to enforce composability, which involves building systems from independent components with well-defined boundaries and explicit dependencies. This requires providing structural feedback to the AI during the generation process, rather than reviewing it afterward. Ultimately, the true measure of AI productivity is not just generation speed but the ability to ship and maintain the code over time.