Real or Reel? Rethinking Estimation in AI-Powered Development

Real or Reel? Rethinking Estimation in AI-Powered Development

AI is changing the way software is designed, developed, tested, and delivered—but what does that mean for estimation?
When AI can generate code in minutes, automate testing, accelerate analysis, and support developers throughout the lifecycle, do our traditional estimation approaches still hold true? Are the productivity gains we anticipate real, or are we creating a reel picture of delivery speed?
This session explores how AI-powered development is challenging conventional approaches to effort, capacity, velocity, and timelines. We’ll examine what changes when humans and AI work together, where estimation can become more uncertain, and how teams can evolve their ways of working without losing predictability.
The conversation goes beyond “How much faster can AI make us?” to ask: “What should estimation look like when AI becomes part of the team?”