The transition to AI-assisted development is a fundamental paradigm shift in software engineering. However, rapid code generation has introduced a Productivity Paradox: the speed of delivery is often negated by the rising costs of remediation and the erosion of deep technical oversight.
In this talk, we analyze high-integrity practices for building with AI assistants, starting with the Knowledge Premium—the reality that deep architectural expertise is critical for providing precision. We will examine strategies for prioritizing context over syntax through Intent-Driven Development. IDD represents a transition from "writing code" to "orchestrating intent," where the human engineer defines the destination and constraints, and the AI serves as a high-level collaborator. Finally, we will demonstrate a set of senior-level "tricks" and best practices designed to increase both the velocity and integrity of your codebase.