Overview

A developer explains how AI coding assistants are fundamentally changing the role of pull requests in software development. Rather than reviewing and merging code contributions directly, PRs now serve as prompt requests that help AI agents understand the intended feature. The developer typically rewrites the entire contribution using AI while preserving the original intent.

Key Takeaways

  • Pull requests are evolving beyond code review - they now function as feature specifications that guide AI development rather than direct code contributions
  • AI coding assistants rarely reuse submitted code directly - instead they use PRs to understand context and intent before generating new implementations
  • Developers are creating new vocabulary for AI-assisted coding, such as ‘weaving code into existing structures’ to describe integration workflows
  • Traditional code contribution workflows are being replaced by human-AI collaboration patterns where humans provide direction and AI handles implementation

Topics Covered