My Last Two Weekends with Google’s AI: Awe-Inspiring Yet Slightly Frightening

Exploring Google’s AI: A Journey from Novice to Creator

Over the past couple of weekends, I’ve delved into the world of Google’s new AI model, and I must admit, the experience has been a whirlwind of emotions—both awe and apprehension.

To provide some context, my background is quite different from what you might expect in the tech realm. As a civil engineer focused on design and project management, I don’t have any formal training in coding or computer science. Intrigued by the possibilities of artificial intelligence, I decided to sign up for a free student license for Google’s latest AI offering.

My goal was simple yet ambitious: Could someone with no coding knowledge create an application using this tool? Specifically, I wanted to develop a straightforward program to help track my small-scale projects—I envisioned a dashboard featuring charts and financial tracking functionalities. Naturally, there are existing software solutions that perform these tasks, but I sought a personalized version that catered to my specific needs.

After investing nearly eight hours last weekend, I engaged with the AI as if I were conversing with a team of developers. Remarkably, the model generated the entire code for me, instructing me on which programs to download and where to input the code.

The outcome? I successfully created a basic program tailored to my preferences—an achievement that left me both impressed and slightly unnerved. While it may not be flawless, it serves my requirements effectively, which is what really matters.

My apprehension stems from the rapid progress of AI technology. With each iteration, these models are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The implications of such advancements are profound, raising questions about the future of work and creativity.

As I look ahead, I plan to continue experimenting by developing additional small-scale applications in the coming week. This experience has opened a door to possibilities I hadn’t previously considered, and I’m excited to explore what else I can create with the help of AI.

Feel free to share your thoughts and any advice you might have on working with AI tools—I’m eager to learn from this community!