It Know Everything About Programming — But Not How to Program: My Experience with Cursor AI

AI tools like Cursor AI are changing how we code. They seem to know everything about programming — but sometimes, they still don’t know how to actually program.

After spending a lot of time working with Cursor AI, I wanted to share a few honest thoughts. I’m excited about what’s possible, but I also think we’re still far from letting tools like this replace real programmers.

First, where Cursor AI shines:

• Speed: It can crank out code incredibly fast, making it great for exploring ideas or getting a head start.
• Wide knowledge: It knows about libraries, APIs, and techniques I might not immediately think of.
• Persistence: If you guide it, it keeps trying — which can be helpful when you’re stuck.
• Fast progress: It's getting better all the time — the improvements over just a few months are real.

But here’s where things get tricky — and why we’re not close to replacing programmers yet:

Where Cursor AI struggles — and why humans still matter:

1. It forgets the basics:
2. It misses Programming 101 rules:
3. No memory of our conversation:
4. It struggles with UI logic:
5. Frequent compilation errors:
6. It doesn't think about the future:
7. It makes reckless decisions without asking:
8. Jumps to quick fixes without seeing the big picture:

The bottom line:

Working with Cursor AI is a lot of fun — but also a bit like working with a really smart but unpredictable intern. Sometimes it nails it, sometimes it breaks things in ways you didn’t expect.

Why I’m still optimistic:

Even with all these issues, the progress is amazing. I fully expect tools like this to get dramatically better in the coming months and years.

But for now?

• AI is a tool, not a replacement.
• It can make you faster, but only if you review everything carefully.
• It can give you ideas, but you still need to be in charge of the final product.

If you’re trying Cursor AI or similar tools, my advice: enjoy the speed, but stay in the driver’s seat. The future is coming fast — and I’m excited to see where this goes

I'm curious to hear from others — what’s been your experience with AI coding tools like Cursor AI, Copilot, or others?

Have they made you faster? Or caused unexpected headaches? Let's share notes!

#AI #GenerativeAI #SoftwareEngineering #Coding #AIAssistant #CursorAI #CodeGeneration #FutureOfWork #Developers #TechInnovation