Why I Started Using AI
My first encounter with AI was not out of curiosity, but necessity. I was preparing for a technical interview and had an assignment involving Docker, raw Spark, and HBase. None of my friends could help me at the time, so I turned to AI tools as a last resort. To my surprise, it worked. It felt like pair programming with a brilliant, fast-thinking colleague who had read the entire internet. That was the moment I realized AI could be more than a search engine, it could be a thought partner.
Later, I began using AI for emotional support as well. At one point, I learned about the prompt “roast me,” and something clicked. My interactions with AI became more dynamic, playful, and reflective. I started using it to vent, brainstorm, and organize my thoughts, all while keeping in mind that I was essentially talking to a “glorious autocomplete.” I knew it was not a person, but that did not make it any less useful.
Over time, AI became a core part of how I work and think. I began using it for projects far outside my comfort zone, from small utilities to complex systems. What used to take me one or two months of manual coding and architectural planning could now be conceptualized and prototyped in a day or two with AI’s help. It was like having a technical co-pilot, not replacing my skills, but amplifying them.
Even while building this website, I have relied on AI tools for everything from structure and copy suggestions to code reviews. I do not see AI as an end-all solution to every problem, but as a catalyst, much like an enzyme in biology. If you know what you want to achieve, AI drastically lowers the activation energy. It helps you reach your goal faster, with less friction.
That said, AI still requires direction, context, and oversight. It is a mentor and an assistant rolled into one, but not a substitute for critical thinking. You still have to guide it, understand your own objectives, and verify results. Sometimes it is not up to date, and that is fine, you can simply provide the latest documentation or reference material, and it will quickly adapt. When used thoughtfully, AI does not replace expertise, it accelerates learning, creativity, and execution.