Why Junior Developers Using AI is a Problem (and Why We’re Failing Them)
AI tools like ChatGPT are everywhere now, and yes, they’re powerful. But let me be absolutely clear: when junior developers rely on AI without understanding what they’re doing, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. And let’s not kid ourselves—this isn’t just on the juniors. It’s on us, the seniors, the managers, the entire system, for letting this mess continue.
The Problem Isn’t AI. It’s the People Using It.
AI isn’t evil. ChatGPT isn’t out there maliciously generating bad code—it’s just a tool. The real issue is how people, particularly juniors, use it. Blindly copying and pasting AI-generated code without understanding it isn’t just lazy—it’s dangerous. And I’ve seen it happen more times than I can count.
Here’s the kicker: the bigger failure isn’t the junior developer—it’s the senior who approved that garbage PR without a second thought. If you’re rubber-stamping code without actually reviewing it, you’re not a mentor. You’re just enabling bad habits.
The Junior Developer Excuse
“We can’t expect juniors to know everything.” Sure, I’ll buy that. But here’s what I can expect:
- Effort. If you don’t understand something, ask questions. Look it up. Don’t just throw AI-generated nonsense into a PR and hope for the best.
- Accountability. If your code breaks something, own up to it. Don’t blame the tool you used. The AI didn’t hit “commit” on your behalf.
- Learning. If a junior isn’t trying to improve, they’re in the wrong role. Period.
And yes, seniors, I’m looking at you too. It’s your job to teach juniors, not just fix their mistakes behind their back. If you’re too busy or can’t be bothered, then don’t call yourself a mentor.
The Senior Problem
Let’s address the elephant in the room: bad senior engineers. The ones who approve PRs without reading them. The ones who don’t bother testing. The ones who can’t explain basic concepts to juniors. These seniors are worse than any clueless junior. Why? Because they should know better.
Here’s a real scenario I witnessed:
- A junior pushed AI-generated code that completely screwed up a deployment pipeline. The PR was “approved” by a senior who clearly had no idea what they were looking at.
- When the whole thing went up in flames, the junior shrugged and said, “ChatGPT wrote it.” And the senior? They shrugged too.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This isn’t a one-off—it’s happening everywhere.
AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch
AI tools like ChatGPT should be treated as assistants, not replacements for critical thinking. Here’s a rule I live by: If you can’t explain what your code does, you shouldn’t be committing it. End of story.
Juniors need to stop treating AI like a magical problem-solving wand, and seniors need to stop letting them. If someone doesn’t understand their code, they need to pause and figure it out. It’s not optional.
What Needs to Change
Here’s what I think needs to happen:
1. Stop Hiring the Wrong People
If a junior developer doesn’t know the basics of coding, debugging, or testing, why are they here? Stop hiring based on buzzwords and start hiring people who actually show potential. And no, the ability to copy-paste from ChatGPT isn’t a skill.
2. Fix the PR Process
Rubber-stamping PRs needs to end. Every PR should be reviewed by someone who understands the codebase inside and out. If your team doesn’t have time for proper reviews, you’ve got bigger problems.
3. Pair Programming
Pair juniors with seniors. Let them learn by doing, not by floundering around with AI-generated garbage. This is an investment in your team’s future.
4. Mandatory AI Training
If your team is using AI tools, you need to train them. Teach juniors how to use AI responsibly and how to validate the output. AI isn’t here to replace thinking—it’s here to augment it.
5. Hold Seniors Accountable
Seniors should be the safety net. If they’re approving bad code or failing to mentor juniors, that’s on them. Start holding them accountable.
The Hard Truth
Some juniors aren’t cut out for this industry. If they refuse to learn or take feedback, let them go. It’s harsh, but it’s the reality. Not everyone is built for this, and keeping dead weight on your team hurts everyone.
But let’s not pretend this is just about juniors. The failures in these scenarios often start at the top. If seniors and managers aren’t setting a standard, how can juniors know what’s expected of them?
Final Thoughts
AI isn’t the villain here. It’s us. If we don’t fix the way juniors are onboarded, mentored, and held accountable, we’re not just failing them—we’re failing ourselves. So, stop blaming ChatGPT for bad code and start fixing the processes and people behind it.
And to the juniors out there: Ask questions. Own your mistakes. Learn every single day. That’s how you grow in this industry—not by copy-pasting your way through it.