Carson Gross argues for using AI as a tutor while learning to code

Carson Gross argues that beginners still need practice writing code to develop the judgment required to read and control larger systems. He recommends using AI to explain concepts and unblock tooling problems rather than outsourcing every exercise. His broader view is that managing complexity, communicating clearly and understanding the problem remain valuable engineering skills.

Carson Gross · Feb 27, 2026

Why it matters

An older essay worth considering when deciding which parts of your learning process to delegate to an assistant.

More context

Try asking for explanations and hints before requesting a complete solution, then write and inspect the code yourself. Gross links a teaching-assistant configuration for his students and distinguishes beginners’ needs from experienced developers’ workflows. The original February publication date is preserved here.

Keep in mind

This is an educator’s argument and personal practice, not a controlled learning study or a reliable prediction of the job market. Different tasks and learners can justify different degrees of assistance.

Original read