Even though I spend hours at a computer, I still feel like I’m encoding-illiterate. Unless we’re counting some dusty old DOS commands I used to get Tetris working on an Amstrad, I have no idea what computers are actually doing. But with AI, I can now request apps that clearly require coding—without knowing the code myself.
One of the easiest ways to test your own intuition is with tools like ChatGPT’s canvas view, where you can preview little applets or interactive snippets. You don’t even have to understand the code—you can just get a vibe check. Does the tool do what it claims to do? Does it even open? It’s like getting a second brain to draft you something technical, but you still get the final say.
I still wouldn’t call myself a coder. But I am getting better at recognising when a tool is wrong, or when something’s not adding up.
And that might be enough.