{
  "id": 8845611,
  "title": "From Skepticism to Overreliance, My Journey With AI (And How to Thrive as a Coder)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/from-skepticism-to-overreliance-my-journey-with-ai-and-how-to-thrive",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-21T05:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/canro91/from-skepticism-to-overreliance-my-journey-with-ai-and-how-to-thrive-as-a-coder-2iah"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Early 2023 saw a coworker's enthusiasm for ChatGPT. Impressed by their excitement, I tried it out myself, but my initial experience was underwhelming. Months later, after the hype died down, I discovered ChatGPT. However, I was unable to access it due to high demand. Brent Ozar recommended keeping a browser tab with ChatGPT open to assist as a junior developer. Intrigued, I gave it a try. In early 2024, Devin made headlines, sparking fears of an AI takeover. Although I remained skeptical, I continued to explore AI tools. In early 2025, after a fresh start, I decided to fully embrace AI. While Copilot proved to be a powerful tool, I found myself becoming overly reliant on it. To combat this dependency, I implemented an AI detox, resuming my regular routine until I prioritized self-improvement. The experience led me to establish guidelines for using AI effectively without sacrificing my coding abilities. Recognizing AI as a transformative tool, I emphasized the importance of possessing foundational skills before leveraging AI's capabilities. In essence, AI should complement one's expertise, rather than replace it. To guide others through this journey, I authored \"Street-Smart Coding,\" a resource that I wish I had during my own transition from a junior to a senior developer.",
  "summary": "Nah... I don't care In early 2023, a coworker tried that new thing called ChatGPT. He shared his excitement. I wasn't that impressed. Months later, after all the buzz, I searched that Chat thing . Every time I tried, I couldn't access it. It was a public beta or something. Too many people. Then, I learned from Brent Ozar to keep a browser tab with ChatGPT open as a junior assistant. Mmm, there's…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "Embracing AI as a coder requires balancing its powerful capabilities with foundational skills to avoid overreliance and ensure it complements, rather than replaces, one's expertise.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}