Artificial intelligence as support for novice programmers
Tags: ai, chatgpt, junior, learning
Published: 2023-09-04 06:14:08


![Artificial intelligence as support for novice programmers](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/7gjhbcdqrbjrn9n7cmlp.png)

**Introduction - Part 1: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Programming Learning**

As soon as I started my adventure of learning programming on my own, I was faced with the question of whether artificial intelligence could actually help juniors in this field. This question popped into my head when I first heard about access to artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT from OpenAI. Although I'm a huge fan of technological innovations, I had my doubts about whether this tool was really of value. 

Initially, like many others, I had concerns about the novelty. Is this just a temporary admiration of the general community? Can artificial intelligence really assist novice programmers? Why such doubts?😣

First of all, we know that new technologies often seem fascinating at first, but only over time do they reveal their "hidden flaws." I was afraid that instead of learning to solve code problems on my own, I would start relying on artificial intelligence, and this could lead to me becoming intellectually lazy. My fears centered on the fact that instead of developing the ability to think and solve problems, I would be limited to the ability to copy and paste code.

In addition, while realizing the power of AI, I was concerned about privacy risks. Is there a risk of sensitive data being leaked or corporations collecting excessive information about our activities? These are questions that were hard to ignore.


![3D_Animation by Leonardio.ai](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/usri4conbellkw9gcph9.jpg)


Despite these concerns, I heard more and more admiration for the prospects opened up by the new era of artificial intelligence. One of the projects that everyone was fascinated by was, of course, ChatGPT, released to the public in late 2022. Although the general opinion was positive, personal experience with AI only six months later really changed my attitude.

In the end, I decided to give artificial intelligence a chance, and as my first task I asked it to write a piece of code. I was surprised by the result! It turned out that AI can be really effective. This event initiated a new stage in my learning, despite my earlier misgivings.

But now, after this adventure, one may wonder whether artificial intelligence is really helpful for novice programmers. As beginners, should we really rely on this tool? Are we at risk of duplicating mistakes instead of learning from the best and experienced "live" programmers?😀💪


![AI vs master](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/h30le9ca3u5f9gmylquh.jpg)

The answer is; Both yes and no. Of course, it would be ideal to learn from experts, but unfortunately, few have the opportunity to do so. Learning to program is constantly breaking through the barricade. Sometimes the wall is as soft as parchment, and sometimes it's as hard as the stone wall of a castle, behind which someone else has left entanglements.😆 

##Therefore, answering the title question, I can definitely say that OpenAI definitely helps beginner programmers!🙌


![AI hand](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/sv23325vdrvub1ojkefw.jpg)


## So to the point!😎👍


1 **Faster learning and more effective development**

Artificial intelligence saves time, speeds up the learning process and gives you the courage to take on your own projects, however small. Instead of wasting hours searching for the answer to a small question, AI can give you a ready-made piece of code directly. 

2 **Individualized approach to learning**

Artificial intelligence can adapt to each programmer's pace and learning style. By analyzing progress and errors, the tools offer personalized guidance, enabling more effective skill development, especially in areas that require more attention.

3 **Design support**

With AI's support, I sometimes received ready-made solutions, which avoided frustration in the early stages of project work. This, in turn, encouraged me to explore and create my own variations of the site and code, rather than strictly following tutorials. If I encountered incomprehensible code, AI was able to break it down into smaller pieces and explain it effectively. Sometimes this worked better than the advice of more than one mentor on the Internet. The same was true for code from tutorials that I didn't understand or something didn't work as it should.


4 **Graphic Design**

With the support of artificial intelligence, we have ready-made texts for the site, sample UI designs, color combinations, generation of graphics or photos for different needs. I built my portfolio myself with the help of ChatGPT and Leonardo.ai, which provided images and was supportive in the overall graphic design.


![Image generated by character.ai](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/asx4bi5ehwdlecnjemsd.png)

## Concerns and limitations

 5 **Overdependence on AI**

However, some concerns about over-reliance on AI should not be overlooked. Beginning programmers should remember that AI is a tool that supports, but does not replace, the ability to think logically and understand the fundamentals of programming. Over-reliance on AI can lead to a lack of developing one's own skills and thinking "outside the box."

6 **Errors and dangers**

Other concerns include potential errors generated by AI. While AI can provide ready-made code snippets, there is a risk that they will not always be correct or optimal. Beginning programmers should verify and understand the code generated by AI, rather than blindly copying it. In addition, there is a risk of providing incorrect information or links, so it is important to verify this information.



Artificial intelligence is a vast and complex topic, and I have focused here on aspects that I think are a good start for beginners.  In the next part of the article, we will delve into the specific plug-ins and possibilities that artificial intelligence offers to beginner programmers. 


**And what is your approach? Do you count yourselves among the faithful enthusiasts💪 or rather skeptics?👎**


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_*Text has been rewritten by ChatGPT .
Stylistics and errors: LanguageTool 
Translation: DeepL*_