I've been trying to pick up a new skill recently and leaned heavily on AI assistants throughout the process. At first it felt incredible. Instant explanations, personalized examples, answers to every followup question without judgment. Way better than staring at a textbook or waiting for a forum reply.
But after a few weeks I noticed something uncomfortable. I could have a great conversation with an AI about a concept and feel like I totally understood it, then sit down to actually apply it and realize I'd barely retained anything. The AI was so good at making explanations feel satisfying that I kept moving forward without the friction that probably makes real learning stick.
This made me wonder if the problem is with AI specifically or just with how easy access to answers affects learning in general. Search engines probably did something similar. But AI feels different because the interaction is conversational and almost socially rewarding, which might make the illusion stronger.
Has anyone else run into this? Do you think AI tools are a net positive for actually building skills, or are they better suited for people who already have a foundation and just need a fast reference? Curious whether anyone has found ways to use AI without replacing the struggle that makes things click.
Alt titles: Are AI tutors making us feel smarter without actually making us smarter | Does learning with AI create a false sense of understanding | AI for skill building: shortcut or trap
[link] [comments]