I use AI extensively in my work because it is required and TBH I don’t love my job, so it’s nice to cut off the boilerplates and automate many tasks.
For my personal projects AI is discuss only mode. But I found I learned a huge amount from it, and without it I wouldn’t be able to complete any of my side projects. There is no guarantee that Stackoverflow and Google can reach the same level of help.
I found that I am relying on AI too much. And if somehow ChatGPT (my primary AI agent for personal projects) becomes more expensive or get nerfed, I might be forced to purchase a bigger license. What about you?
vunderba•1h ago
Humans are pretty adaptable. For example like many others, I became pretty reliant on Google Maps to get me wherever I wanted to go in the early 2000s. Later, I moved to Taiwan, and my phone didn’t have anywhere near the same capabilities - zero access to any of these smart map systems.
I found my ability to navigate and locate places spatially came back, just like riding a bicycle. I don’t think those skills permanently atrophy; I think they just go a bit dormant.
That being said, I can't speak for newer, more junior engineers especially the coming generations who will grow up always having had access to LLMs.