Why Battle-Tested Software Engineering Still Matters in the Age of AI

The June 2026 SEA Tech Talk will be presented by Mario Benitez

While use of AI in developing and maintaining software is increasing globally, this use is relatively new, and proven practices for using AI effectively are still emerging. There are different ways to use AI, but their effectiveness varies with use cases, lifecycle phases, and practice variations. Activities like prototyping can move incredibly quickly, but product quality does not come for free and sharp increases in technical debt can result if software engineers do not use AI responsibly.  

Software engineering principles and practices can provide significant value in guiding the use of AI in development. This talk shares observations and lessons from both personal use of AI and study of its application across multiple projects. The talk will explore different modes of AI usage from code assistants to agentic workflows, and the gap between “vibe coding” and disciplined software engineering. Finally, it will examine how AI is changing the development equation by increasing pressure as code is produced in larger volumes and at a faster pace than teams can validate and integrate incrementally.

About the Presenter

Mario Benitez is a software architect at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute (SEI), where he works across Department of Defense and other government agency initiatives, from architecting large-scale systems to advancing software architecture practices. With over 20 years of experience in software engineering, he has built and delivered complex, high-reliability systems, including those in safety-critical environments. Prior to joining SEI, he spent 15 years in the railway industry, progressing from tester to product owner while leading the development of globally-deployed systems. He currently focuses on the practical application of artificial intelligence to enhance large-scale software modernization, enabling organizations to transform complex systems more efficiently and effectively.