My Recent Fortnights with Google’s AI: A Mix of Awe and Unease

Exploring Google’s AI Model: A Civil Engineer’s Journey into Coding

Over the past two weekends, I have delved into the world of Google’s AI model—an experience that left me both fascinated and somewhat apprehensive. As a civil engineer with no background in coding or computer science, I was curious about how accessible this cutting-edge technology really is for someone like myself.

To explore this, I signed up for a free student license of the latest Google AI model, eager to see if I could create a simple application tailored to my needs. My goal was modest: I wanted a tool to help me track small-scale projects, something that would allow me to visualize data through charts and monitor the financial aspects effectively. Although there are existing software solutions available, I envisioned a customized approach that reflected my particular requirements.

After dedicating nearly eight hours last weekend, I interacted with the AI as if I were collaborating with a team of skilled developers. To my amazement, the model generated complete code for me, guiding me on the programs I needed to download and precisely where to input the code.

The outcome? I successfully created a functional application without any prior coding experience. While it’s not perfect and still requires refinement, it serves my particular needs effectively—exactly how I intended it.

However, this remarkable achievement also filled me with apprehension. The potential of AI models like this one is both exciting and intimidating, as they continue to evolve and improve at an unprecedented pace.

Looking ahead, I plan to build additional small-scale applications in the coming week. This journey has opened my eyes to the possibilities that lie at the intersection of engineering and technology, and I look forward to what I can create next.

Stay tuned for updates on my journey as an AI novice! If you have any insights or experiences to share, feel free to comment below.