I miss thinking hard
A software engineer reflects on how the rise of AI has diminished opportunities for 'hard thinking,' transforming their role from a deep problem-solver to a 'vibe coder.' This introspective piece resonates with many who feel AI, while boosting productivity, might be starving their intellectual curiosity and the satisfaction of wrestling with complex problems. The discussion questions whether AI truly reduces critical thinking or simply shifts its focus to higher-level design and architectural challenges.
The Lowdown
The author, a software engineer, shares a deeply personal reflection on a phenomenon they've observed: a significant decline in opportunities for 'hard thinking' in their daily work, which they attribute primarily to the pervasive influence of AI. They lament a growing dissatisfaction despite increased productivity.
- The author identifies two core personality traits: 'The Builder,' driven by creating and shipping, and 'The Thinker,' which craves deep, prolonged mental struggle.
- Their background in physics instilled a profound appreciation for 'thinking hard,' a method that consistently led to solutions and satisfaction.
- Initially, software engineering perfectly balanced these two traits, offering both the pragmatism of building and the intellectual challenge of complex problem-solving.
- However, the advent of AI has led to 'vibe coding,' where AI quickly provides 'good enough' 70% solutions, satisfying 'The Builder' but leaving 'The Thinker' unfulfilled.
- The author struggles with 'the trap of pragmatism,' finding it irrational not to use AI for efficiency, even if it means sacrificing deeper engagement with problems.
- They question if coding can ever again satisfy both their Builder and Thinker needs, as the number of problems requiring truly creative solutions seems to be shrinking.
- Attempts to find intellectual challenge outside of coding, like revisiting physics, are thwarted by the Builder's insistence on productivity and relevance.
The piece concludes with the author's unresolved feelings, highlighting a profound personal dilemma where efficiency gained through AI comes at the cost of deep intellectual engagement and professional satisfaction.
The Gossip
AI Augments Analytical Acuity
Many commenters strongly disagree with the author's premise, arguing that AI doesn't diminish hard thinking but rather elevates it. They contend that AI offloads menial tasks, allowing engineers to focus on higher-level architectural decisions, design choices, risk assessment, and more ambitious projects. For them, AI acts as a powerful assistant that enables deeper exploration of alternatives and pushes the boundaries of what they can create, leading to *more* critical thinking rather than less.
The Crafting Conundrum & Hidden Debt
A significant group of commenters aligns with the author's sentiment, expressing a longing for the pure act of coding and the satisfaction derived from manual craftsmanship. This concern often extends to the potential pitfalls of AI's 'good enough' solutions, which, while pragmatic, are seen as capable of creating substantial hidden technical debt. They argue that bypassing a thorough understanding of edge cases and problem origins ultimately leads to less robust systems and a shallower engagement with the work.
Broader Blame Beyond Bots
Some commenters offer an alternative perspective, suggesting that the perceived decrease in opportunities for deep technical problem-solving isn't solely attributable to AI. They argue that broader industry trends, such as the widespread adoption of open-source libraries, cloud services, frameworks, and agile methodologies, have already significantly reduced the need for ground-up, deep technical thought by providing readily available and abstracted solutions for common challenges, long before AI became prevalent.