Predict Before You Ask AI: Keeping Your Understanding of Code Intact

The piece argues that learners should protect their ability to build a mental model of why code works, since AI harms that only when it bypasses the model-building process. Once a concept is understood, using AI to generate routine boilerplate is considered acceptable. The author contends the real issue is timing rather than frequency of AI use: attempting a problem or predicting an answer first lets AI serve as a check and explanation. Asking AI before forming a guess, by contrast, lets it replace the learner's reasoning. A promoted plugin is mentioned that requires users to predict answers before the AI responds, along with a free five-day course on a plan-first workflow.