{"slug": "from-skepticism-to-overreliance-my-journey-with-ai-and-how-to-thrive-as-a-coder", "title": "From Skepticism to Overreliance, My Journey With AI (And How to Thrive as a Coder)", "summary": "A developer chronicled a multi-year shift from skepticism about ChatGPT in early 2023 to overreliance on GitHub Copilot by 2025, which prompted an \"AI detox\" and a set of personal rules for using AI without eroding core coding skills. The developer argues that building real skills first and then leveraging AI is the way to thrive in the AI era, and has published a guide, Street-Smart Coding, based on that journey.", "body_md": "In early 2023, a coworker tried that new thing called ChatGPT.\n\nHe shared his excitement.\n\nI wasn't that impressed.\n\nMonths later, after all the buzz, I searched that *Chat thing*.\n\nEvery time I tried, I couldn't access it.\n\nIt was a public beta or something.\n\nToo many people.\n\nThen, I learned from [Brent Ozar](https://canro91.github.io/2025/02/02/LessonsFromBrentOzar) to keep a browser tab with ChatGPT open as a junior assistant.\n\n*Mmm, there's something there...*\n\nIn early 2024, [Devin was released](https://canro91.github.io/2024/04/29/2034Predictions).\n\n\"The sky is falling\" all over the headlines.\n\nI didn't buy it.\n\nEarly 2025, I decided to try AI with a fresh mind.\n\nAfter using Copilot for weeks, *\"OMG! This thing is dangerous.\"*\n\nOne day I realized I couldn't finish a simple task alone.\n\nThe tool worked, but [I was becoming so dependent](https://canro91.github.io/2025/07/13/TheProblemWithAI).\n\nAn AI detox season followed.\n\n*No more AI until you eat your vegetables and do your homework.*\n\nThen I made [some](https://canro91.github.io/2025/10/14/AIRule) [rules](https://canro91.github.io/2026/01/26/AnotherAIRule) to use AI without losing my skills.\n\nLike any other tool, AI is a game changer with the right skills.\n\nOtherwise, [it's like a fancy calculator](https://canro91.github.io/2025/11/27/HowToThinkOfAI) in a math exam you didn't study for.\n\nTo thrive in the AI era, [build real skills, then leverage AI](https://canro91.github.io/2026/02/12/RealSkills).\n\nThis is the way!\n\n*To help you build AI-proof skills, I wrote **[Street-Smart Coding](https://imcsarag.gumroad.com/l/streetsmartcoding/?utm_source=devto&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=skepticism-overreliance-my-journey-ai)**. The guide I wish I had on my journey from junior to senior.*", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/from-skepticism-to-overreliance-my-journey-with-ai-and-how-to-thrive-as-a-coder", "canonical_source": "https://dev.to/canro91/from-skepticism-to-overreliance-my-journey-with-ai-and-how-to-thrive-as-a-coder-2iah", "published_at": "2026-09-21 05:00:00+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-09-21 05:23:02.426067+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-tools", "developer-tools", "ai-products"], "entities": ["ChatGPT", "GitHub Copilot", "Devin", "Brent Ozar", "Street-Smart Coding"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/from-skepticism-to-overreliance-my-journey-with-ai-and-how-to-thrive-as-a-coder", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/from-skepticism-to-overreliance-my-journey-with-ai-and-how-to-thrive-as-a-coder.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/from-skepticism-to-overreliance-my-journey-with-ai-and-how-to-thrive-as-a-coder.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/from-skepticism-to-overreliance-my-journey-with-ai-and-how-to-thrive-as-a-coder.jsonld"}}