A great way to realize your dependence on external brains in order to think is to turn off not just your AI tools but your _network_ and THEN code, or write a d

A great way to realize your dependence on external brains in order to think is to turn off not just your AI tools but your _network_ and THEN code, or write a document, or read a technical paper. I realized that I can code in recently learned languages only because I can cut and paste it; in order to use that language I rely wholly on stolen code from web searches for input and error messages to detect omissions. I put very little effort into creatively thinking through the process myself. Maybe this is why, after more than 40 years in the business, I no longer enjoy daily programming. I hate simply rehashing other people's words and ideas. So I decided it was time to quit this rat race, and I retired. Now, if I do get back into coding, for recreation or as a free software volunteer, I'll unplug first and then code from scratch. From now on I want my brain to be fully responsible for and engaged in what I write (and read).