Simple explanation

Non-developers often feel they have to trust AI completely because they cannot read code. But there are clear signals that tell you whether the output is safe to use — even if you cannot read a single line of it. The most important signal is whether the change is focused or sprawling.

What to do

After receiving code from AI, ask yourself three questions: Did it change more than I asked? Are there new imports or dependencies I did not request? Does the plain-language explanation make sense? If anything feels off, ask AI to explain what changed before you use it.

Copy-paste prompt

You just gave me this code: [paste the code]. Please explain in plain language, as if speaking to a non-developer, exactly what this code does and what it changes in my app. Tell me if it adds any new dependencies or changes anything I did not ask about.

Course note

Module 4 includes a simple Code Review Checklist designed for non-developers. You do not need to read code — you need to know what changed and why.

Key takeaway

Ask AI to explain its own code in plain language. Every time.