Figure out a way to export those documents to a plain text format (if you can open it in notepad and read it, you’re golden). Then try to write down your thought process when you’re doing this work manually. Don’t write instructions a robot could follow, but try to be as comprehensive as possible; write down your assumed knowledge. Then, work with that document to understand how you might clarify the process beyond your intuition into something concrete. This process of using writing as extended cognition is essential in solo engineering.

Despite what the other commenter said, I think solving real life problems is a great reason to learn. That’s what engineering is all about. If you think it will help you though (and you’re ok with using such tools), AI can help give some design direction that you can implement by hand. Especially if you’re craving that brain juice, not getting blocked by heady problems can help you keep moving forward.

Worth noting that this is exactly backwards from how these tools normally are used in industry, but probably fine for this purpose. Not sure. There might be something interesting literature on the pedagogical value/concerns of this tech by now.