Don't shoot the messenger, but maybe the idea is this:

You're smart, and you know what can go wrong, so you use models slowly, and you check their work. Your bet is that it will make a bad mistake.

Your coworker is reckless, they don't know or care what can go wrong, so they use models quickly. Their bet is that the model won't make a bad mistake.

If the model doesn't make a bad mistake, your coworker is creating more value to your employer, and your employer doesn't really care if you understand the code. They just want something that works.

Over the last year, it sure seems like models are making less mistakes, so the expectations on the bets are changing too.