Seems like they were operating with a pile of bad practices, then threw AI into the mix.

Neural networks are approximation algorithms. There’s a reason LLMs are generally more productive with statically typed languages, TDD, etc. They need those feedback loops and guard rails, or they’ll just carry on as if assuming they never make mistakes (which tends to have a compounding effect).

If you want to use AI safely, you should be more defensive about it. It will fuck up; plan accordingly.