The Reality of AI: Why You Shouldn’t Fear the Coding Capabilities of Machines

In recent discussions surrounding artificial intelligence, a common theme has emerged: the fear of a so-called AI Apocalypse. Many are worried that AI will soon surpass human capabilities across various sectors, including coding. However, my recent experiences with AI tools, namely ChatGPT and CLAUDE, have taught me that we may not need to panic just yet.

Last week, I found myself increasingly intrigued by the idea of utilizing AI to streamline a personal project involving graphic files for my Substack newsletter. Initially, I thought of completing the task with PowerPoint, a platform I am quite familiar with. But in the spirit of exploration, I decided to venture into the realm of AI-assisted coding to see if it could save me time and effort.

I envisioned a seamless collaboration with CLAUDE that would culminate in a stunning, professional set of graphics. Unfortunately, as it often goes when working with new technology, what I thought would be a straightforward shortcut quickly turned into a complex challenge. Each time we managed to address one issue, a myriad of others appeared, leading to what can only be described as an epic game of whack-a-mole. The intricacies of the AI’s responses resulted in a frustrating experience that, after several days of trying to extract coherent output, led me back to the familiar shores of PowerPoint. I efficiently completed the task in a little over three hours.

Through this trial, it became apparent that AI still resembles a novice coder on their very first project. While improvements will undoubtedly occur thanks to Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) and continuous human oversight, the technology is far from perfect at this stage.

So, is the anxiety surrounding AI’s capabilities justified? Not at this moment. Most of the fears regarding AI taking over coding or other professional roles seem to stem from sensationalist narratives or from those aiming to capitalize on public concern.

Instead of succumbing to fear, let’s take a step back, grab a comforting drink, and remember that the current limitations of AI mean it isn’t a god-like entity ready to take over our lives. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, a simple remedy might be to relax, unwind, and perhaps indulge in a bit of self-care. Let’s embrace the reality: AI is a tool, not a threat.