The Reality of “Vibe Coding” – Why AI-Generated Code Still Requires Expertise

I’ve often heard the idea of “vibe coding”—the notion that anyone can generate functional code without understanding how it works, simply by relying on AI tools. To test this claim, I decided to put it into practice, experimenting with multiple AI models and coding assistants to see if they could truly replace foundational programming knowledge.

The hypothesis was simple: Can AI generate working software without the user needing to understand programming basics, design principles, or the underlying AI model?

After extensive testing with tools like Gemini, Copilot, DeepSeek, and Cursor, I consistently reached the same conclusion: No.

The Problems with AI-Generated Code

1. It Rarely Works on the First Try
   • Most generated code fails to run immediately. Even simple proof-of-concept (POC) programs often contain critical errors—wrong library names, nonexistent functions, or logical flaws.
   • When you ask the AI to fix the code, it often “hallucinates,” introducing even more bizarre errors.
2. The AI Doesn’t Actually Understand the Code
   • Despite confidently claiming that the code is “100% working,” the AI frequently produces non-functional or misleading solutions.
   • Example: In one case, the AI repeatedly referenced a misspelled library name. When I manually corrected it, I discovered that the functions it called didn’t even exist—they were pure hallucinations.
   • At one point, after multiple failed fixes, the AI suggested: “Just install the library locally.” But if the library name was wrong in the first place… how?
3. Security Risks: Malicious Libraries & Hidden Exploits
   • Some hackers have caught onto AI hallucinations and now host malicious libraries under the same incorrect names that AI models frequently generate.
   • If you blindly run AI-generated code, you might end up with:
     • Data-stealing malware
     • Backdoors for attackers
     • Cryptojacking scripts
     • Unexpected cloud bills (if running on a paid service)

The Future for Developers

For programmers worried about AI replacing their jobs, here’s the good news: Your expertise is still essential.

• AI won’t eliminate programming jobs—but it will create more complex debugging scenarios.
• Instead of writing boilerplate code, developers will spend more time fixing AI-generated bugs, securing flawed implementations, and preventing disasters.

So, no, “vibe coding” doesn’t work (yet). If you don’t understand the fundamentals, AI won’t save you—it might just make things worse.