Generative tools make text, code, and summaries cheap and fast. Understanding does not speed up at the same rate. If we put an output into our work without being able to explain its assumptions or consequences, we may accumulate something like knowledge debt: today’s work moves ahead while unresolved questions are pushed into the future.
A recent research commentary introduces this idea. It is not yet an established metric or a precise score for quality; it is a lens for noticing the gap between production and understanding. That gap may surface later in documentation, decisions, or system maintenance.
The practical question is not whether to stop using these tools. It is who reviews the output, which assumptions should be recorded, and whether the team can later explain or change the work. A few minutes spent understanding can cost less than hours of rework.