Microsoft leaders Mark Russinovich and Scott Hanselman warn that agentic AI coding tools are creating a structural crisis by automating the entry-level tasks essential for skill development. Data shows a 67% drop in entry-level hiring since 2022, threatening the future talent pipeline as junior engineers face “cognitive debt” from over-outsourcing tasks. To combat this, they propose a preceptor program that pairs mentors with juniors to teach the critical judgment AI cannot replicate.