Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit
bonoboTP | on: Using AI to write better code more slowly
I find that it really is effective when you iterate and plan and review, but the problem is more psychological on the human side. It's just too easily available to take the lazy option and just let it do the thing, postpone the thorough reviewing and you end up in a similar situation as tech debt. In an ideal world with no deadline pressure and infinite discipline, AI can be used in productive ways for sure. But when you actually write the code, there is more of a "do you do it or not" switch, and with AI it's a smooth ramp, you can be just a bit less involved or just a bit more. And I end up feeling like I'm not fully involved, I'm halfway working and my whole mind isn't tuned into it properly. I'm not sure how to express it. Also, now several months in, I just don't get the same feeling of accomplishment from the little wins. It's too automatic, doesn't feel earned.
leetrout | parent | next
I discovered something about myself a few years ago... I have to simmer in my work and let my head get wrapped around it.

My visual for this is a capybara soaking

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/capybaras-take...

I am very visual and spatial. The first investment I make in my home or even visiting somewhere for more than 3-4 days where I will need to work without coworking is buying a whiteboard.

So now I'm here with all these tools trying to use a remarkable tablet to draw and show the AI what I'm thinking. It's just not fulfilling. Cleaning toilets isn't either. Lots of jobs have felt like a full on race to software factory and it's clear we're going there with AI and the "cognitive debt" from half (or less) activated brains driving the code generation is going to be massive.

loading story #48278328
convenwis | parent
"It's just too easily available to take the lazy option and just let it do the thing"

This seems to me to be one of the key problems for AI usage in general. Students have this problem where it can be incredibly helpful in actually learning but late at night with the assignment due early tomorrow the temptation is just too strong to have it do the thing.

loading story #48278381