I Forgot How to Think Like a Developer — Thanks, AI

AI started finishing my code. Then it started finishing my thoughts. Somewhere along the way, I stopped solving problems myself.

I Forgot How to Think Like a Developer — Thanks, AI

Here’s how overreliance on AI tools dulled my developer instincts — and what I’m doing now to rebuild my critical thinking, creativity, and confidence.

Why solve a problem from scratch when ChatGPT gives me the answer in 10 seconds?”

That was my mindset for months. And it nearly cost me my ability to think like a real developer.

The Fast Lane to Nowhere

When AI tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and Replit Ghostwriter became mainstream, I was excited. Like most developers, I saw them as superpowers — a way to write code faster, reduce boilerplate, and unblock myself during tricky bugs.

Initially, it felt like magic. I could:

• Generate boilerplate code instantly.
• Get API usage examples without reading documentation.
• Refactor code or convert it to another language in seconds.

But somewhere along the way, I stopped asking “why.”
I stopped debugging deeply.
I stopped thinking critically.

I had outsourced my brain to an AI assistant.

When I Realized Something Was Off

It hit me during a simple code review.

A teammate asked, “Why did you choose this approach?”
I stared at the screen. Blank.

The truth? I didn’t choose it. ChatGPT did.

I had pasted a problem, skimmed the AI’s output, and dropped it into my codebase without fully understanding it.

And now I couldn’t defend the solution — or even explain how it worked.

That was my wake-up call.

AI Made Me Lazy, Not Smarter

Here’s the irony: AI was supposed to make me a better developer. Instead, it made me faster — and dumber.

It’s not that AI itself is bad. It’s how I was using it:

• I used it as a crutch, not a mentor.
• I used it to skip learning, not speed it up.
• I used it to avoid hard thinking, not deepen it.

In short, I stopped thinking like a developer — someone who breaks problems down, explores trade-offs, and writes code with intention.

Relearning the Developer Mindset

I had to retrain myself.

1. Ask Before You Prompt

Before turning to AI, I now try to:

• Sketch out a rough solution myself.
• List the constraints, edge cases, and potential bugs.
• Think through the logic step by step.

This builds a mental model — so even if I use AI, I know what to look for in its answer.

2. Treat AI Like a Junior Dev

Would you blindly trust a junior dev’s first solution?
Neither should you with AI.

Now, when I get a response from AI, I:

• Question its assumptions.
• Refactor and optimize its output.
• Add my own reasoning and comments.

AI is smart, but you are the engineer. Own the decisions.

3. Write Without Autocomplete Sometimes

It’s painful, but effective.

I occasionally turn off Copilot and code solo — to remind myself how to think through problems. It forces me to re-engage with syntax, logic, and structure.

You’ll be surprised how rusty you feel — and how quickly it comes back with practice.

AI Should Amplify You, Not Replace You

Here’s what I’ve come to believe:

AI shouldn’t replace your thinking. It should reward it.

If you bring clear intent, well-formed questions, and strong fundamentals — AI can help you fly.
But if you rely on it blindly, it slowly erodes your edge.

Don’t let it write your story. Let it be your co-pilot — not your captain.

Final Thoughts

The developer mindset isn’t just about writing code.
It’s about understanding why a solution works, how it fits in a system, and what trade-offs you’re making.

I forgot that for a while.
Thanks to AI.

But now, with some hard lessons, I’m learning to think again.
And this time, I’m not outsourcing that skill to anyone — not even the smartest machine on the planet.

Enjoyed this story?
Clap 👏 to support it, or share it with a developer friend who might be AI-fatigued too.