Overview
Dan Shapiro proposes a five-level model for AI-assisted programming evolution, from basic autocomplete to fully autonomous software development where humans never review AI-generated code. The levels progress from simple code suggestions to complete “dark factories” where AI agents handle the entire development process.
The Breakdown
- Level 0-1 (Spicy Autocomplete to Coding Intern): AI provides code snippets and handles boilerplate with full human oversight and review of every suggestion.
- Level 2-3 (Junior to Senior Developer): AI takes on pair programming and bulk code generation roles while humans shift to code review and architectural guidance.
- Level 4 (Engineering Team): Humans become engineering managers while AI agents handle most implementation work based on specs and collaborative planning.
- Level 5 (Dark Software Factory): Complete autonomous development where humans never review AI code and focus solely on system design and proving the software works through extensive testing.
- Real-world implementation: Small teams with decades of experience are already achieving level 5, building robust systems in months by having AI focus heavily on testing, tooling, and validation rather than just code generation.