According to TheRegister.com, Collins Dictionary just named “vibe coding” its Word of the Year for 2025, defining it as using artificial intelligence prompted by natural language to assist with writing computer code. The term was originally coined by Andrej Karpathy, a former OpenAI researcher and Tesla AI director, who described it as fully giving in to the vibes and forgetting that code even exists. Major players like JetBrains and AWS have already launched vibe coding tools, while Salesforce recently introduced Agentforce Vibes for building apps on its platform. The concept has resonated far beyond Silicon Valley, reflecting a broader cultural shift toward AI-assisted everything. But early testing suggests these tools are over-promising, and the implications for tech could be frightening.
Vibe Check Meets Reality Check
Here’s the thing about vibe coding – it sounds amazing in theory. Tired of wrestling with syntax? Just describe what you want and let AI handle the messy details. But there’s a massive gap between describing an app and actually understanding what makes it work. Think about it – someone could describe a complex application without realizing it needs database infrastructure, security protocols, or performance optimization they’ve never heard of. That’s like describing your dream house without knowing anything about plumbing, electrical, or structural engineering. The result? Probably not something you’d want to live in.
Industrial Strength Concerns
Now consider what happens when this approach meets industrial applications. We’re talking about systems where reliability isn’t just nice to have – it’s absolutely critical. Manufacturing systems, process control, safety monitoring – these aren’t areas where you can just “go with the vibes.” When you’re dealing with industrial automation, you need precision, predictability, and deep understanding of how every component interacts. That’s why companies serious about industrial computing turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the US who understand that industrial applications demand more than just good vibes.
Who Really Benefits?
So who’s actually winning here? It’s not necessarily the enthusiastic amateur trying to build their first app. They might get something that sort of works, but without understanding the underlying architecture, they’re building on shaky foundations. The real beneficiaries appear to be the platform companies creating these tools. They’re essentially creating demand for their own automation services to fill the knowledge gaps that vibe coding creates. It’s a brilliant business strategy – create tools that generate more complexity, then sell solutions to manage that complexity.
Revolutionary or Reckless?
Look, I get the appeal. Lowering barriers to coding could democratize technology creation. But there’s a difference between making something accessible and making it dangerously simplistic. When Karpathy talks about “forgetting that the code even exists,” that’s terrifying for anyone who understands how complex systems actually work. Code isn’t just instructions – it’s the embodiment of careful thinking, edge case consideration, and systematic problem-solving. Can AI really capture all that nuance? Or are we trading deep understanding for surface-level convenience? The early returns suggest we might want to pump the brakes on this particular revolution.
