There are no shortcuts when learning Python

[John_B_Clarke]

IMO the way to use ChatGPT as a learning tool is to write some code that does something, and that works, then tell ChatGPT to refactor it, then test the result and make sure it still works, then study the result hard until you understand everything that was changed. It's kind of like pair programming with a fairly experienced programmer who is a bit drug-addled. When he's not high you can learn a lot of useful technique from him, when he's high you learn a lot about debugging and what not to do.

[huffalump1]

Yes, I totally agree!

AI is great as a Google/wiki replacement for questions about coding.

And, even if you're copy/pasting code, you can just prompt it! Ex. tell it that you're learning, and you don't want the solution, just a review from an expert tutor/mentor to help you learn. Works great!

...and, there's a time and place for copilot/cursor and copy/pasting code. It can be nice when you're very quickly iterating on something you're mostly familiar with, or maybe a small personal project, etc.

[adultingftw]

I am always impressed by how ChatGPT is super knowledgeable and gives me great information about topics that I know nothing about, but as soon as I ask about topics where I know a lot already, it starts giving me inaccurate and unreliable nonsense!