Should You Use AI Tools to Code? (Spoiler: Yes, But With Limits)

Let’s talk about AI tools for coding—things like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and other fancy helpers that make you feel like you’ve hired an invisible coding buddy. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should use them, let me save you some time: absolutely, yes. But (and this is a big but), it’s all about how much and how wisely you use them.

Here’s the thing: AI tools are fantastic for the repetitive, boilerplate-y parts of coding. Need to write a CRUD API? Done in seconds. Want to refactor some messy code? AI’s got your back. It’s like having a pair programmer who never takes breaks or judges your typos. For me, tools like these are lifesavers when I’m knee-deep in a project and need to churn out code quickly.

But, there’s a catch. Relying too much on AI can make you a bit, well… lazy. If you let it do all the thinking, you risk losing your problem-solving edge—the very skill that makes a developer irreplaceable. So, I think of AI tools as assistants, not substitutes. I still analyze problems, write logic, and debug like it’s my job (because it kind of is). The AI just speeds up the process.

Another key is knowing when to use AI. For example, if you’re learning something new, resist the urge to let AI write all the code for you. Trust me, struggling through those lines yourself is how you grow. But if you’re on a tight deadline or tackling something mundane, let the AI handle it while you focus on the interesting bits.

In short, AI tools are like power-ups in a video game. Use them to level up, but don’t let them play the game for you. Balance is everything.

“With great power comes great responsibility.” – Uncle Ben (Spider-Man)