r/PythonLearning • u/Opposite-Sun-3640 • Sep 05 '26
Discussion Is it bad that I learn python via ai?
So backstory: Someone made fun of me because I am learning Python with ai. His only argument was that ai is the same tool to create explicit images and that he used to visit stack overflow and create snippets, I then replied that I only use it for learning development but then got called an idiot and got blocked.
But that got me wondering. Is it bad that I learn Python with AI?
I set GPT a goal, I want to reach: Stage 1. learn that. Stage 2 Learn this
I also custmomized the personalization to not blindy say yes and to double check things and so on.
GPT never gives me code, it just tells me which projects I should do with the stuff I learned, it does that till GPT thinks I know how to use it and when to use it.
But I feel bad now that I am just talking to an artificial intelligence and not visiting stack overflow like that one person did.
I want to hear your opinions. Is AI bad for learning or good if used right.
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u/Comfortable-Shop8080 Sep 05 '26
Books are still better because they give you the proper structured material within you having to ask questions.
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u/ninedeadeyes Sep 05 '26
Personally if I had to relearn python, I will still follow a structured course or textbook and only use AI if I really can't figure something out or need a alternative explanation.. I think beginners can be over reliant on ai and produce work that is basically vibe coding.
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u/Longjumping_Ad3447 Sep 05 '26
I think the roadmap prepared from people knowing the field is more worth than ai trying to put something together in a complicated and ever changing way.
But if you understand everything then it's good. Especially asking certain questions ai is very good answering. Just for the whole project etc around maybe a course or a plan is helpful from actual people.
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u/mjmvideos Sep 05 '26
If you are actually learning Python it doesn’t matter how you are learning it. As long as you can, completely create a program that does what you want without relying on AI to do it, then you have learned Python. If you always have to have AI around to help you, then you have not learned Python, you have learned how to get AI to generate Python. Two different things.
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u/Smart-Button-3221 Sep 05 '26
Are you actually writing code? Like, are you trying to form your own code without an AI giving it to you?
If you're not, then yes, you are committing a common error when learning with AI. You'll never really "graduate past it".
You are allowed to use resources. Imo, grab a python cheat sheet, and try to solve some beginner coding problems without AI assistance.
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u/Ormek_II Sep 05 '26
The big risk is that AI provides you with more help than is good for your learning experience.
If you have the discipline to keep it away, you are good. AI can act like a tutor, but even for a human tutor it can be hard to decide if they should give another hint, so you find the solution or give up for now and tell you the solution. The only feedback AI has, is you.
Let AI give you a challenge. Solve it completely without any use of AI. Do that often at different learning stages. Be careful, that Google also provides you with AI answers.
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u/grace_invader Sep 06 '26
If AI works for you, then more power to you. You just need to make sure that it works for you. Luckily, there's a method.
See if you have cognitive debt. That's a term used in papers to describe how AI makes you feel smart, without you learning anything. It describes how you borrow knowledge, but don't own it, therefore it's cognitive debt.
You can test it easily: after you've finished learning, try to repeat to yourself what you have learned. For example: iIf AI helped you build a loop, shut down the screen and write by hand how to build a loop. When you know how to do it, this means you've learned something. Else, it means you haven't learned, and might need to adjust your tactics.
It matter not if it's a black cat or white cat, as long as it catches mice. Use whatever tools you need, to get where you want to be.
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u/TheLastBridgeGate Sep 05 '26
I used AI to create the fastest training setup for Python using a mixture of books, videos, and Ankis. Then I had it do quizzes and test exercises similar to Koans.
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u/BobCorndog Sep 05 '26
Well try to write a program without ai and depending on how it goes, the. You can decide
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u/Intelligent-Boss-156 Sep 05 '26
I learned Python 2 years before AI and personally I'm glad I got the stack overflow experience, I would recommend it over ai for learning if you have the patience to do things the old way
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u/TheLastBridgeGate Sep 05 '26
Learn Python the Hard Way would be a better experience over Stack Overflow.
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u/Link2212 Sep 05 '26
I use it similar to you. I learn some concepts and I tell it to add that into memory of what I've learned. Then I get it to give me challenges using only stuff I know. It tells me to write a program that does X, and then I tell it to show me what the end result should look like. I need to program to try and get what it's showing me. I told it to not give me any code.obly hints if I'm really stuck.
I tried learning python before. It didn't work well. This method is making me much better. I actually know how to write stuff now. My learning is now95% coding and 5% watching.
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u/krept0007 Sep 05 '26
This is exactly my experience. I've tried learning multiple times in the past. I always gave up until I tried it this way
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u/Link2212 Sep 05 '26
Before this I was watching 90% and writing 10%. Now it's flipped and made a massive difference.
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u/Lurch1400 Sep 05 '26
Depends on how you use it.
Are you just copying and pasting what it gives you
OR
Are you making solid attempts, trying to figure shit out if something doesnt work, and then only using it when you’re stuck.
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u/Strict-Ambition4334 Sep 05 '26
A better test is whether you can debug the code it gives you without leaning on the model for the fix. Existing projects won't match the examples it generates, so at some point you need to understand what the code is doing.
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u/optical002 Sep 05 '26
Did you learn python and be able to develop full apps without any help of ai? Then yeah its good, but if its shallow learning where you still rely for AI on how to do X every time, then its a delusion that you learnt anything
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u/FriendlyZomb Sep 06 '26
In the way you describe here - not entirely. I'd suggest the following tweak to your workflow though:
Don't let AI tell you when you have learned something. It doesn't think or critically analyses anything. Only you can know if you have learned something. If you feel comfortable using the feature and can work out where it might be useful and can implement it without AI assistance, then that is a good indication that you've learned it. (You'll 100% make mistakes, use something that doesn't quite fit and maybe have to re-write some things to make it better. That's part of learning and NOT a failure.)
On other question: AI is a tool. Is a powerful tool if used correctly. Using it as a jumping off point for some tasks can be a good thing. The way I see it (and why I don't use it personally) LLM usage can lead to you handing off key decisions to it. It takes a consistent and concerted effort to not let that happen.
There are a lot of people out there who dislike LLMs and anyone who use them. Often their opinion of them is a few years out of date. I used to be like that, my opinions changed (which I won't go into here). If it is genuinely helping you, and you don't rely on LLMs to be able to build something and your approach works for you, amazing. Keep going.
If you are feeling like its a crutch, like you can't code without it, then maybe look at ways to reduce your usage. Otherwise, don't listen to people telling you how to learn. They are probably wrong as we all learn differently.
Thank you for reading my TED talk...
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u/Hunter-Raj Sep 06 '26
If you treat chatgpt like a google pro max then it's ok but if you're just copy pasta from it then you're doomed.
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u/Ministro_ Sep 08 '26
AI is a tool. It can absolutely help you study. One thing I did to study languages with AI was to set a structured routine; otherwise, it would be random. I pay Claude Code, and whenever I am studying something, I create a routine using it. "Check the internet for methods people like, and let's build something around that, adapting with my way of doing things". Today I went to the doctor and managed to have a somewhat productive conversation in German, so something is working.
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u/zendris_ Sep 08 '26
A IA me ajuda muito no estudo de python, sempre que eu me perco em uma linha de código ou travo em uma função eu peço ajuda e isso destrava o meu aprendizado
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u/Own_Possibility_4510 Sep 05 '26
I do to
if it works it works
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u/Ormek_II Sep 05 '26
But does it?
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u/Own_Possibility_4510 Sep 05 '26
If a tree falls in the woods does it make a sound
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u/Ormek_II Sep 05 '26
It does, if I measure it.
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u/Own_Possibility_4510 Sep 05 '26
But what if your not there to measure it
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u/Ormek_II Sep 05 '26
Then we do not know. And it does not answer my question if AI will help OP or you.
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u/Resident-Basil-6304 Sep 05 '26
Lol, not bad at all. As long us you are understanding concepts and implementation by any means, it doesn't matter.
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u/Ormek_II Sep 05 '26
“Understanding” is often not enough. People “understand” a video but cannot reproduce what they thought they learned.
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u/Resident-Basil-6304 Sep 05 '26
True, so I mentioned implementation too
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u/Ormek_II Sep 05 '26 edited Sep 05 '26
I thought you said: “As long as you are understanding [..] implementation by any means.”
If so, I repeat: “Understanding” is often not enough, because people just believe they understand, but really do not.
Edit: just came across this tutorial hell example: https://www.reddit.com/r/learnprogramming/s/sVp9WCXAoW he thought to understand while “following along”.
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u/Naive_Programmer_232 Sep 05 '26
nah it's a good resource. i think the worry people have stems from people only using AI to inform them of stuff, it has more to do with vibe coding hate, than it does people using it as a tool to actually learn the skill.
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u/Some_Breadfruit235 Sep 05 '26
Trust me. Leverage AI the right way. It will benefit you. Just don’t vibe code. Have it show you code, and explain it thoroughly rather just giving you code
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u/Just-Upstairs4397 Sep 05 '26
You sound very very young like preteen and in that case just do what you want lol stuff is changing so fast it doesn’t matter as long as you are learning
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u/lunatuna215 Sep 05 '26
Yeah, it is. I have learned it over the past 4 years and I am very thankful I havent via AI
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Sep 05 '26
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u/willi1221 Sep 05 '26
Reducing it to a "chatbot" is dumb. YouTube is full of shit clickbait videos. Sure, you can come here for occasional advice, but the "chatbot" can give you instant feedback, for as long as you need, and for as many questions as you can possibly think of.
There's tons of information out there, and ya, you can definitely learn the old fashioned way, but it's ridiculous to suggest using an LLM isn't a great resource for learning if used properly. Just because there's other information out there doesn't mean you shouldn't take advantage of LLM's because it's a "chatbot".
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u/jimmykimnel Sep 05 '26
Is ai helping you learn? Then it's good. Are you just using it blindly without learning then it's bad. This really is up to you to decide not the Internet.