Phase 3: Reading & Reviewing AI Code · 20 min · Any vibe coding tool with chat
Asking AI to Explain Itself
The AI wrote the code. It can explain the code. Ask it.
Hiring signal: What changes when you use this: you can understand any AI-generated code by asking for explanations — which means you're never blindly accepting code you don't understand.
What you will learn
- Use the 'explain this code' prompt effectively
- Ask why, not just what — understanding the AI's reasoning
- Request line-by-line explanations for suspicious sections
- Use the 'what could go wrong with this?' prompt to surface hidden issues
Your Mission
Use three prompts — explain, why, and what-could-go-wrong — to understand and audit AI-generated code. Output: ai_explanation_audit.md.
You need: Any AI-built project with a code view and chat.
Time: 20 minutes.
Step 1: Learn the 3 Review Prompts (3 min)
Prompt 1 — "Explain this code"
"Explain what the code in [file/section/function name] does, step by step, in plain English."
Prompt 2 — "Why did you do it this way?"
"Why did you use localStorage instead of a database?" / "Why did you use POST instead of GET?"
Prompt 3 — "What could go wrong?"
"What are the top 3 things that could go wrong with this code? What edge cases haven't been handled? What security issues might exist?"
Why the AI doesn't volunteer issues
AI coding tools are optimized to produce working code, not to surface every potential issue. When you ask it to build a form, it builds a form. It doesn't say 'by the way, your API key is exposed' unless you ask. The 'what could go wrong?' prompt is you asking it to switch from builder mode to reviewer mode. The same AI that wrote the code is surprisingly good at finding its own flaws when you ask it to look for them.
Unlock the full lesson
You've read the first 2 sections. The rest of this lesson covers Step 2: Find a Section You Don't Understand (2 min), Step 3: Ask "Explain This Code" (5 min), Code Section, Explain Prompt, AI's Explanation, Step 4: Ask "Why Did You Do It This Way?" (5 min), Why Prompt, AI's Reasoning, My Assessment, Step 5: Ask "What Could Go Wrong?" (5 min), What Could Go Wrong Prompt, AI's Response, My Assessment, You're Done — plus a hands-on lab, quiz, and project artifact.
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