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Victor Jeremiah Usese
Victor Jeremiah Usese

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🚀 Is Learning to Code Obsolete in the Age of AI and GPT?

With the rise of artificial intelligence, especially tools like ChatGPT, many people are starting to wonder:

“Is learning to code still worth it?”
“Won’t AI just write code for us?”
“Isn’t coding becoming obsolete?”
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Let me be clear from the start:
Learning to code is not obsolete — it’s more relevant than ever.

In fact, the best developers of the future won’t be those who ignore AI.
They’ll be those who combine their coding skills with AI tools to work faster, smarter, and more creatively.

Let’s break down why coding still matters and how you can balance both worlds effectively.

💡 1. AI is a Tool, Not a Replacement

AI tools like ChatGPT are amazing — they can generate boilerplate code, explain syntax, and even debug.

But here’s the catch:

  • AI doesn’t “understand” what it’s doing — it generates based on patterns from data it has seen.

  • It won’t always know your app’s architecture or business logic.

  • It can’t reason like a human about long-term structure or product goals.

  • If something breaks, you still need you — the developer — to fix and optimize it.

🔧 AI is the nail gun. You still need to know how to build the house.
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🧠 2. Coding Teaches Computational Thinking

Even if you never build a startup or become a full-time developer, learning to code builds valuable mental muscles:

  • Logical reasoning

  • Step-by-step thinking

  • Breaking down complex problems into smaller parts

These are not just coding skills — they are thinking skills.
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🔐 3. AI-Generated Code Needs Human Oversight

AI can suggest code quickly, but it often:

  • Contains bugs or inefficiencies

  • Doesn’t follow best practices

  • Ignores security, scalability, or compliance concerns

To deliver reliable and secure products, human developers are essential. AI helps speed up the process, but real-world software still needs critical thinking, testing, and engineering.

🌱 4. Custom and Creative Solutions Still Require People

AI is trained on what already exists. If you're trying to:

  • Build something new

  • Innovate in user experience

  • Combine systems in creative ways

AI won’t be able to help much unless you guide it.

Humans imagine. AI assists.
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🌍 5. Every Industry is Going Digital

From agriculture to fashion, logistics to education — everything is becoming programmable.

Learning to code means you can:

  • Build your own tools

  • Automate repetitive tasks

  • Collaborate with tech teams

  • Communicate effectively in the digital age

And if you also know how to use AI to assist with your code, you're now 10x more productive.

🧭 How to Balance Learning to Code and Using AI Effectively

Here’s a practical roadmap to combine the power of AI with your coding journey:

🪜 Step 1: Learn the Fundamentals

Before you lean too much on AI:

💡 You can use GPT to explain concepts, but don’t let it write entire code for you (yet).

🧪 Step 2: Use AI as a Learning Assistant

Once you understand the basics:

  • Use ChatGPT to explain errors

  • Ask it to suggest improvements to your code

  • Challenge it: “What’s a better way to write this function?”

The key is active learning, not passive copying.
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⚙️ Step 3: Build Projects with Light AI Assistance

As you build:

  • Write most of your code yourself

  • Use AI for stuck points, boilerplate, or optimization ideas

  • Ask “Why does this work?” every time GPT gives you an answer

🚀 Step 4: Upgrade to Advanced Use

As you get better:

  • Let GPT draft basic functions, and you fine-tune them

  • Use AI for documentation, testing, and code reviews

  • Explore building with AI APIs — like integrating GPT into your apps

You now become the director — AI is your assistant.
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✍️ Final Thoughts

AI is changing the landscape of coding — no doubt. But it's not making coding obsolete. It's making bad or shallow understanding easier to spot — and deep understanding more powerful.

The future belongs to developers who:

  • Think clearly

  • Understand code deeply

  • Leverage AI smartly

So don’t quit learning to code — level up with AI by your side.
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🙋‍♂️ Want Help Getting Started?

Drop a comment or reach out if you'd like:

  • A custom beginner roadmap

  • A list of GPT prompts to help you code better

  • A sample project that uses both manual coding and AI assistance

Happy coding — the smart way.
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Top comments (5)

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parag_nandy_roy profile image
Parag Nandy Roy •

Completely agree with this viewpoint..

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victorusese profile image
Victor Jeremiah Usese •

Thank you so much😊

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parag_nandy_roy profile image
Parag Nandy Roy •

Your welcome 😊

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nathan_tarbert profile image
Nathan Tarbert •

love seeing focus on real skills with ai in the mix - you think people miss out by skipping the basics and leaning too hard on shortcuts?

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victorusese profile image
Victor Jeremiah Usese •

Thank you! I totally agree — AI opens amazing doors, but skipping the basics is like building on shaky ground.

When people lean too hard on shortcuts without understanding core principles, they often hit roadblocks they can’t explain or fix. The real power comes when you combine a solid grasp of the fundamentals with AI's speed and assistance. That’s where creativity, control, and confidence come in.

So yes — shortcuts can help, but only if you’ve taken the long road at least once. Appreciate your insight!