I have been thinking about this a lot lately.

Compared with many veterans in this field, these are just a few personal thoughts from where I stand.

12 years ago, I chose database development because it rewarded long-term accumulation. Databases are foundational software. They come with deep engineering challenges, huge codebases, complex internals, and a learning curve that often takes years just to get started. That was part of the attraction for me.

But when I started, I went through the same pain many beginners do. I was overwhelmed by the codebase. Theory, systems, and engineering concepts all came at once. I remember how anxious I was, even outside work, wondering whether I could really make it through. After years of struggling, things finally began to click.

• The first struct.

• The first function.

• The first module.

And from there, the snowball finally started rolling.

Back then, I often wished I had an experienced database mentor who could guide me anytime.

Now, in 2026, that mentor has arrived: AI.

You can ask it about a concept, a piece of code, or a design you do not understand. Most of the time, it gives a very good answer. It is always available, always patient.

But this mentor is also a double-edged sword.

For junior developers, AI may shorten the patience the industry once had for a slow growth period. Many tasks once given to juniors are now things AI can do in minutes.

And learning itself is changing too.

When answers come instantly, it becomes easier to skip the painful part: struggling through code, comparing implementations, and thinking deeply enough to build real understanding.

AI can place a mirage at the start of a long road. The destination looks close, but the real journey is still there.

For seniors who rely mainly on experience gaps to stay competitive, I think the good old days are also fading. A smart and hardworking junior with strong AI assistance can absorb in a short time what once took years to accumulate.

But for seniors who are still curious and ambitious, this is also an exciting phase. AI is like an intelligent, efficient, tireless executor. It helps turn ideas that once required a full project cycle into something one experienced engineer can explore much faster. It gives us more imagination, more courage, and much stronger execution power.

Personally, I feel lucky that I met AI at this stage of my career. Right now, for me, it is more amplifying than replacing. But how long this honeymoon period will last, I do not know.

So back to the question, my answer is:

👉 Do not let AI do your thinking for you

👉 Keep learning, go deeper

👉 Be bolder, Do not use AI only to escape simple work and painful learning. Use it to take on harder, more ambitious problems, and to expand the boundary of what you can build.

That may be the real gift of this era, use it to strengthen yourself for as long as you can, until the day it may finally take over this industry. 🙂