From Agile to AI: Anniversary workshop says test-driven development ideal for AI coding
The Register
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
25 years after the Agile Manifesto, a workshop hosted by Martin Fowler of Thoughtworks explored the impact of AI on software development. Experts concluded that test-driven development (TDD) is more critical than ever in the age of AI coding agents. TDD ensures that tests are written before code, preventing AI from producing broken behavior and confirming incorrect implementations. This approach maintains rigorous engineering discipline, which remains essential even as AI shifts the nature of software development.
The workshop, conducted under the Chatham House Rule, highlighted challenges like divergent patterns among AI agents, the need for standardization versus embracing divergence, and the importance of junior developers in effectively supervising AI tools. The report emphasized that while AI can accelerate development, it doesn’t eliminate the need for traditional practices like iterative development and refactoring. Instead, it shifts bottlenecks to areas like cross-team dependencies and architecture reviews, leaving delivery times unchanged but increasing frustration.
Security emerged as a significant concern, with participants warning that established practices are breaking under the weight of AI-assisted work. The report stressed the importance of building trust in inherently non-deterministic systems, though experts agreed it’s too early for a new manifesto. Martin Fowler acknowledged the lasting impact of the Agile Manifesto but cautioned against over-reliance on new frameworks.
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Originally published on The Register on 2/20/2026