Has AI changed what companies expect from junior developers?

[onetwothird]

With tools like Claude Code and ChatGPT becoming more common, I’m curious if companies are starting to expect junior developers to be productive much faster.

Does AI make it easier for juniors to get started, or is it making it harder to get that first opportunity because companies expect more from them now?

I’d be interested to hear what other developers think, especially juniors who are currently looking for their first job.

[5h4d0wn1k]

AI helps juniors ship faster, but fundamentals still matter. When AI hallucinates, knowing the "why" helps you spot and fix mistakes.

It can handle boilerplate and repetition, but it can't think out of the box — it's pattern-based since it learns from human data.

Don't skip fundamentals even if it takes longer. Use AI as a multiplier, not a crutch. That's what'll set you apart.