Training Wheels vs Balance Bikes

Here's another way to think about the pitfalls of "Vibe Coding" and relying too much on AI: Some assistive technologies are like training wheels, and others are like balance bikes.

As a millennial, I learned to bike the traditional way: tricycle -> bike with training wheels -> Bike. Progress is relatively slow because training wheels do nothing to develop balance, so once the training wheels are off, you're back to zero.

My kids learned biking the new way: balance bike -> bike. A balance bike is a bike without pedals. You push it around like a walker and then learn to roll with it. This is a much faster way to learn biking because the crucial part is learning how to keep your balance, not how to push the pedals.

And what does this all have to do with AI, and AI-assisted coding in general? Aimlessly throwing requests at the AI is like using training wheels. At the moment, it feels comfortable, but once the training wheels come off, you're left floundering.

In contrast, using AI to refine your thinking, validate your approach, generate ideas, etc., is similar to the balance bike approach: You acquire critical skills, so you don't bump into a skill ceiling. Let AI be a stepping stone, not a roadblock!