// HYPOTHESIS_LOADED
Developers are terrified. The narrative on Twitter (or X) is consistent: "Coding is dead." "Devin will replace you." "Cursor writes code better than you."
They say AI can build a website in seconds. They say you don't need to know HTML anymore.
But I have a suspicion. I suspect that while AI is fast, it is also messy. It builds facades, not foundations. To test this, I set up a rigorous cage match.
The Experiment: I have 60 minutes on the clock for two separate sessions.
Session A (The Machine): I use ChatGPT + Midjourney + V0. No coding allowed. I can
only copy-paste what the bot gives me.
Session B (The Human): I use VS Code. I write every line by hand. No copilot. No
autocomplete.
The Goal: Build a high-converting landing page for a fictional "Cyberpunk Coffee Brand" called NeonBrew.
> SESSION A: THE AI (THE SPEED TRAP)
I prompt V0: "Create a dark, neon, cyberpunk coffee landing page. Hero section with a glowing cup. 3D tilt effects. Use Tailwind CSS."
The Result: Boom. It exists instantly. It looks... impressive? It has gradients. It has buttons. It has a nav bar. I feel like a god. I have done 8 hours of work in 30 seconds.
The cracks begin to show. I ask for a "testimonials carousel."
The AI generates it. But the carousel spins infinitely fast. It looks like a slot machine.
"Fix the carousel speed," I type.
The AI rewrites the entire file. It adds 400 lines of React code for a simple
scroll animation. Suddenly, my 50-line file is 800 lines.
I try to change the font color from purple to green.
This should be easy. But the AI has used Tailwind arbitrary values.
<div class="absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-r from-[#a855f7] via-[#ec4899] to-[#ef4444] opacity-20 blur-3xl transform translate-x-1/2 translate-y-1/2 rounded-full pointer-events-none mix-blend-screen"></div>
I stare at this. I don't know which part makes it purple. I ask the AI to change it. It breaks the
layout entirely. The hero image disappears.
I spend the last 15 minutes fighting the AI's own mess.
Final State: Visually impressive, but functionality is broken. The "Buy" button
does nothing.
> SESSION B: THE HUMAN (THE TORTOISE)
I am staring at a blank screen. It is painful.
I type: `<!DOCTYPE html>`.
I create `style.css`.
I am setting up Flexbox containers. It feels slow. I feel like a caveman banging rocks together
compared to the AI speed.
But I know exactly where everything is.
I need a header? I write `.header { display: flex; }`.
I need it green? I write `color: #00ff00;`.
There is no magic. There is only intent.
I don't have a fancy 3D carousel. I don't have complex React blobs.
But I have a working site. The buttons hover. The links work. The code is 120 lines total, not
2,000.
I spend the last 15 minutes polishing the mobile view. It works perfectly on a phone.
> THE VERDICT: BLOAT VS. INTENT
| Metric | AI Version | Human Version |
|---|---|---|
| Time to First Render | 2 Minutes (Instant) | 15 Minutes (Slow) |
| Code Size | 4.2 MB (React Bundle + Junk) | 12 KB (Pure HTML/CSS) |
| Maintainability | Impossible (Spaghetti) | Easy (Structured) |
| "Soul" | Generic Corporate SaaS Vibe | Unique, Rough, Authentic |
> FINAL_ANALYSIS
AI is like a contractor who builds a house in a day using only duct tape and cardboard. It looks like a house from the street. You are amazed. "Wow! A house in a day!"
But the moment you try to hang a picture, the wall collapses. The plumbing is connected to the electrical. The windows are painted on.
Hand-coding is like laying bricks. It is slow. It is boring. It hurts your back. But when you lean against the wall, it holds you up.
CONCLUSION: Use AI for the prototype. Use a Human for the product. If you don't know how to code, AI allows you to fake it. If you DO know how to code, AI just gets in the way of your craftsmanship.