From Passenger to Pilot: How .NET Devs Use AI Without Getting Burned

In the age of AI code generation, developers with foundational knowledge become 'pilots' who can critically evaluate AI suggestions, detect hidden errors, and make sound architectural decisions, while those without such knowledge become 'passengers' who must blindly trust AI output; this distinction means that while syntax knowledge and API memorization become less valuable, architectural understanding, judgment, and the ability to evaluate trade-offs become increasingly important skills.