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When developers become too dependent on AI to "assist" them in coding, they're more likely to be unable to debug "their own" code as they won't have a full gra

When developers become too dependent on AI to "assist" them in coding, they're more likely to be unable to debug "their own" code as they won't have a full grasp/understanding of it. People tend to adapt to technology by becoming more lazy, putting less effort in understanding. Look at how after of calculators became common, we got generations of people who struggle to do basic math.

sillysaurusx 2y ago
But there have always been people who struggle to do basic math. It doesn’t seem true that people will be unable to debug “their own” code, even if it was generated by AI, because people already learn how to debug open source software not written by themselves.
layer8 2y ago
Maybe we should restrict code generation to the dumber models so that we can still use the more lucid models for debugging. ;) (This is an allusion to Kernighan’s lever.)
scarface_74 2y ago
Old folks (raises hand) said the same thing about “high level languages” like C when people don’t learn assembly.
fujinghg 2y ago
People struggle at basic mathematics because they don't need it for daily use in society. And you forget things when you don't use them. You'll also find that most people do the same stuff they would have done without a calculator still without a calculator. The advantage now is when they do reach for the calculator they aren't working with perhaps 2 digits precision like the slide rule that preceded them or having to tabulate large amounts of figures to maintain precision.
epolanski 2y ago
> Look at how after of calculators became common, we got generations of people who struggle to do basic math. Do you have any data behind this claim? > When developers become too dependent on AI to "assist" them in coding, they're more likely to be unable to debug "their own" code as they won't have a full grasp/understanding of it. Again, do you have any evidence that this happen?

sillysaurusx 2y ago

But there have always been people who struggle to do basic math. It doesn’t seem true that people will be unable to debug “their own” code, even if it was generated by AI, because people already learn how to debug open source software not written by themselves.

layer8 2y ago

Maybe we should restrict code generation to the dumber models so that we can still use the more lucid models for debugging. ;) (This is an allusion to Kernighan’s lever.)

scarface_74 2y ago

Old folks (raises hand) said the same thing about “high level languages” like C when people don’t learn assembly.

fujinghg 2y ago

People struggle at basic mathematics because they don't need it for daily use in society. And you forget things when you don't use them. You'll also find that most people do the same stuff they would have done without a calculator still without a calculator. The advantage now is when they do reach for the calculator they aren't working with perhaps 2 digits precision like the slide rule that preceded them or having to tabulate large amounts of figures to maintain precision.

epolanski 2y ago

> Look at how after of calculators became common, we got generations of people who struggle to do basic math. Do you have any data behind this claim? > When developers become too dependent on AI to "assist" them in coding, they're more likely to be unable to debug "their own" code as they won't have a full grasp/understanding of it. Again, do you have any evidence that this happen?