[dangus]

The analogy still works and we get the idea.

Maybe a better analogy might be a car with an automatic transmission, although that doesn’t capture the pitfalls of AI very well. It could be argued that a good automatic transmission has none of the serious downsides that AI has.

Still, the general idea is sometimes getting stuff faster with less effort more automatically is more important than the “reward” of doing it yourself.

[fragmede]

If we're bringing up cars, the parallel to draw is with GPS and navigation. Do I know how to get anywhere without technology to guide me? Have I broken my brain because I've offloaded navigation to technology?

[yurishimo]

Eh it depends on a lot more factors. Perhaps at the most extreme side of the first time you take a new route.

I use a GPS all the time, but only because it also shows me traffic, red light cameras, and potential hazards. I memorized the route after the first 2-3 drives but I keep using the gps for the amenities.

That said, I’m old enough to have used printed map directions and my time in Boy Scouts gave me the skills to read a paper map too.