I stopped using AI code editors

Summary

TL;DR: I chose to make using AI a manual action, because I felt the slow loss of competence over time when I relied on it, and I recommend everyone to be cautious with making AI a key part of their workflow.In late 2022, I used AI tools for the first time, even before the first version of ChatGPT. In 2023, I started using AI-based tools in my development workflow. Initially, I was super impressed with the capabilities of these LLMs. The fact that I could just copy and paste obscure compiler errors along with the C++ source code, and be told where the error is caused felt like magic.Once GitHub Copilot started becoming more and more powerful, I started using it more and more. I used various other LLM integrations right in my editor. Using AI was part of my workflow.In late 2024 I removed all LLM integrations from my code editors. I still use LLMs occasionally and I do think AI can be used in a way that is very beneficial for many programmers. So then why don’t I use AI-powered code editing tools?Tesla FSDFrom 2019 to 2021 I drove a Tesla. Though I would never make the same purchase again, not for political reasons, just because the cars are quite low quality, very overpriced and a hell to repair or maintain.When I got my Tesla, I started using the Full Self-Driving (FSD) anytime I could. It felt great to just put the car on FSD on the highway and zone out a bit. Switching lanes was as simple as hitting the turn signal, and the car would switch lanes. Driving for me was just getting to the highway, turning on FSD, telling the car to switch lanes every now and then, and listen to music/podcasts while zoning out.If you drive a car often, you’ll know that when you’re driving on the highway, everything sort of happens automatically. Keeping your car in the lane at the right speed becomes a passive action, it does not require the type of focus that for example reading a book requires, it’s the type of focus that walking requires, it happens in the background of your mind.I...