The Ethical Dilemma of Embracing Agentic AI in Software Engineering

The recent wave of testimonials claiming an 'inflection point' in agentic AI for software development has forced many engineers into uncomfortable ethical calculations. This introspection forms the core of an engineer's personal account detailing their reluctant decision to experiment with these tools despite profound reservations.

At the heart of this conflict lies what the author terms the 'Competence As Tragedy' paradox: How does one maintain passion for a craft while suspecting its inevitable transformation? Programming isn't merely a profession but an identity - the satisfaction derived from system design and problem-solving constitutes a fundamental aspect of self. This existential concern amplifies when confronting AI's ethical dimensions, which the author systematically outlines:

1. Data Provenance: Current models rely on training data acquired without consent or compensation
2. Environmental Cost: The energy consumption required for training and inference runs counter to global sustainability imperatives
3. Social Fragmentation: Acceleration of epistemic divides and erosion of shared reality
4. Oligarchic Control: Concentration of power among few entities with questionable commitment to public welfare
5. Economic Viability: The unsustainable financial model threatens broader economic stability

Despite recognizing these systemic issues, the author acknowledges their limited individual agency. Corporate adoption has already occurred, rendering personal abstention largely symbolic. This resignation leads to a pragmatic, if uncomfortable, decision: A week-long immersion in agentic workflows using existing company infrastructure.

The experiment aims to resolve cognitive dissonance between theoretical understanding and practical experience. While conversant in LLM capabilities and limitations through secondary research, the author seeks firsthand verification to substantiate professional opinions. This gap between academic knowledge and tactile proficiency creates professional vulnerability in an evolving field.

Beneath the technical exploration lies palpable anxiety about programming's future. Three distinct fears emerge:

• Existential: Will AI-assisted programming drain the intrinsic joy of craft?
• Professional: At 27, with programming integral to identity, what happens when demand diminishes?
• Technical: Could AI standardization cause framework stagnation?

The planned immersion deliberately avoids grand ambitions. Following established integration patterns, the focus remains on incremental skill development rather than productivity gains. This controlled approach acknowledges the possibility that ethical discomfort may ultimately outweigh any technical benefits.

This narrative crystallizes a generational moment for software engineering. When environmental impact, labor transformation, and artistic integrity collide, individual choices become philosophical statements. The author's journey represents not blind adoption but conscious navigation through ethical minefields - a recognition that technological inevitability demands eyes-wide-open engagement rather than passive acceptance. The outcome remains uncertain, but the documentation of this hesitation itself provides valuable insight into our transitional era.