Maybe a good analogy for how we should use AI in a sustainable way is chess. Chess engines surpassed human players decades ago, yet professional chess played by humans is still active and thriving.

Based on what I heard (e.g., based on Kasparov's Deep Thinking book and podcasts featuring Magnus Carlsen), modern players have been using AI to explore different ideas, challenge their intuitions, and analyze mistakes with a level of depth that simply was not possible before.

I think this is a useful model for how to think about AI in other forms of intellectual work. Used well, AI can accelerate learning and expand what a single person can reasonably take on. I think we should treat it more as a partner rather than a replacement.

But I also think if AI is used to outsource thinking and coding entirely, it risks undermining motivation and long-term skill development.