DEV Community: Muhammad Hassan Saleem

AI Is Not Replacing Developers, But It Might Replace Their Learning Process

Muhammad Hassan Saleem — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 05:07:04 +0000

When many of us started learning programming, the journey looked very different.

There was no instant solution button. There was no tool that could write an entire piece of code for us within seconds.

We searched.
We struggled.
We debugged.
We spent hours trying to understand why something wasn't working.

And honestly, that struggle was a big part of learning.

It forced us to think.

It forced us to explore different approaches.

It forced us to become problem solvers.

But then AI entered our lives.

And don't get me wrong, AI is one of the most powerful tools we have ever received as developers. It can help us learn faster, solve problems quicker, and explore ideas that would have taken much more time before.

For experienced developers, AI is like having a powerful assistant beside them. They already understand programming concepts, system design, logic, and problem-solving. AI simply helps them move faster.

But there is another side of this.

For many beginners, AI became not a helper, but a replacement.

Instead of asking:
"Why does this code work?"

The question became:
"Can AI just make this for me?"

Instead of struggling through errors:
"How can I fix this?"

It became:
"Let me send this error to AI."

And slowly, without realizing it, many people started skipping the most important part of becoming a developer, the learning process.

I am saying this because I experienced it myself.

When I started my programming journey, I used to spend hours trying to understand concepts, fixing errors, and figuring things out on my own.

It was difficult, but every small success felt meaningful because I knew I built that understanding myself.

Then I got introduced to AI tools.

And honestly, it felt amazing.

Problems that took hours could be solved in minutes.

Tasks became easier.

Coding became faster.

But after some time, I realized something:

I was getting things done, but I wasn't always growing.

I was getting the answer, but sometimes I wasn't learning how to find the answer myself.

And that is where the difference lies.

AI is not the problem.

The problem is when we stop thinking because AI can think with us.

A calculator didn't destroy mathematics. It helped people perform calculations faster.

But if someone never learns basic mathematics because they always depend on a calculator, they lose something important.

The same applies to AI.

Use AI.

Ask questions.

Take guidance.

Learn from it.

But don't let it replace your thinking.

Before asking AI, try solving the problem yourself.

Read the code it generates.

Understand every line.

Break it.

Modify it.

Experiment with it.

Because those moments where you struggle, fail, debug, and finally solve something yourself are the moments where real growth happens.

The satisfaction you get after spending hours solving a problem on your own is completely different.

That feeling builds confidence.

That feeling builds discipline.

That feeling keeps you moving forward.

If you feel like you have become too dependent on AI, don't worry.

The important thing is that you recognize it.

Learning can restart anytime.

I am also trying to rebuild my own foundation, step by step.

And maybe this can be your reminder too:

AI is not here to replace your journey.

It is here to support it.

Use it as a tool.

But never give away the process that makes you better.

I Was Quiet, But I Was Building: My Journey After the First Step

Muhammad Hassan Saleem — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:06:45 +0000

A few days ago, I shared my first step toward becoming the person I want to be. I talked about changing my habits, becoming more consistent, and starting a journey of growth.

I planned to keep writing regularly, but sometimes life takes you into a different direction.

During this time, instead of writing about progress, I was actually making it.

I spent my time working on projects, strengthening my foundation, and taking small steps toward the mission of becoming the person I want to become.

Something I have realized during this process is that whenever you decide to learn something, you rarely learn only that one thing. You start discovering many other things along the way.

The same happened with me.

I have been working on an R&D project that involves multiple domains: Machine Learning/AI models, Internet of Things, embedded devices, and many other areas where I had little to no previous experience.

But that's the interesting part of learning.

Every day, you discover something new.

Because of this project, I was given the responsibility of being a group leader. At the beginning, I honestly didn't even know how to handle people properly haha.

But slowly, something changed.

I started understanding my team better, communicating better, and taking responsibility. I never started this journey thinking that I would become someone who leads others, but sometimes we discover abilities within ourselves when situations demand it.

And maybe that's how life works. We don't always know where a path will take us, but every step teaches us something.

The biggest lesson I learned is this:

No matter what you are doing in your life, when you truly commit yourself to something, you won't only gain knowledge about that specific thing. You will learn many unexpected lessons along the way, sometimes intentionally, sometimes without even realizing it.

So keep moving forward.

Keep learning.

Keep taking those small steps.

Because every small step is building the person you want to become.

My First Step towards Success

Muhammad Hassan Saleem — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 05:52:28 +0000

Hi, Hassan here.

I’m new to Medium, and I’m excited to begin sharing my journey with you. Through my posts, I’ll talk about how a life filled with procrastination and wasted time gradually transformed into one focused on growth, learning, and self-improvement.

This is my first publication, so you may notice mistakes or find parts that aren’t as polished as professional writers. That’s okay. After all, the title is “My First Step Towards Success.” No meaningful journey starts perfectly, and I’m willing to learn along the way.

To be honest, I’ve never enjoyed writing about myself. However, I believe that sharing my experiences might help someone who is going through similar struggles.

For a long time, I spent countless hours scrolling through social media and telling myself, “I’ll do it later.” Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Eventually, I realized that if I wanted a different future, I had to make different choices.

Today, I’ve decided to change. I want to become the person I know I can be. The journey won’t be easy, and I don’t expect instant results. Real change requires consistency, discipline, and patience.
Many people decide to improve their lives, but staying committed is often the hardest part. That’s why I’m starting this journey publicly, not because I have everything figured out, but because I want to grow, learn, and encourage others who may feel stuck or disappointed with where they are.

This isn’t just a story about self-improvement. It’s the beginning of a much bigger journey.

As a Computer Science student, I’m working toward a future in Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI. Through this blog, I’ll be sharing not only my personal growth but also the lessons, projects, challenges, and discoveries I encounter along the way.

I’m still learning, still making mistakes, and still figuring things out. But that’s exactly what this journey is about.

If you’d like to follow the process of someone building himself from the ground up, both personally and professionally. I hope you’ll stick around for the chapters ahead.

If I can take this first step, maybe you can too.

Let’s grow together.