For open source programs, AI coding tools are a mixed blessing

Here's something that might surprise you — AI coding tools are both a blessing and a curse for open source projects. You see, they make building new features faster and easier. But according to Russell Brandom writing in AI, the same tools are also flooding projects with messy, low-quality code. This creates a real headache when it comes to maintaining what’s already there. Now, here's where it gets interesting — developers can churn out code faster than ever, but that code isn't always reliable or clean. As Brandom points out, this leads to a kind of double-edged sword: more innovation, yes, but also more technical debt. So, what does this actually mean for you? Well, if you're part of an open source project — or managing one — you’ll want to be extra cautious. AI tools are great, but they aren't a magic fix. Keep an eye on the quality, or you might find yourself drowning in bugs and unfinished features before you know it.