My 15 year old used AI tools to prepare for his mathematics exam this time.
These tools provided him with instant solutions whenever he felt stuck. He was fairly confident about his preparation.
But didn’t end up doing very well in the exam.
While reflecting on this, he said something very interesting:
“I guess AI just gave me an illusion of knowledge. Just because solutions were readily available at my disposal, I felt like I knew the subject well without actually knowing it.”
Illuson of knowledge~ that term stayed with me.
I think it’s applicable to all of us.
Some level of friction is an important part of learning.
While learning a new skill, or solving a problem~ it’s important to stay with the problem, struggle with it, contemplate over possible ways to solve it, live with that discomfort through the process, till you finally get it.
It’s these hard earned lessons that stay with you and equip to you to take on more.
Just because now AI tools are available, don’t depend on them to completely eliminate this friction.
Use them instead to complement your thinking, challenge it, to gather new perspectives and to imagine new possibilities.
Your ability to think is your greatest virtue. It’s supposed to be a hard earned skill. Just to avoid the momentary discomfort, don’t outsource it.
That’s a sure shot way to become redundant!