Part 1 of 3: Experience Is the Shortcut to AI

Everyone says AI is just for the young. But I’ve seen the opposite. Experienced programmers often pick it up faster than anyone expects. Here’s why…

The myth: AI belongs to the young. The hoodie-wearing startup crowd. The fresh-out-of-boot-camp coders.

However, the truth is harder to ignore: experienced programmers often adapt faster to AI than anyone else.

Why? Because building AI isn’t about chasing shiny tools. It’s about solving real problems, connecting systems, and debugging when things go wrong. That’s what you’ve been doing for years.

If you’ve spent decades:

▪ Breaking down complex, messy problems

▪ Debugging systems until 2 AM

▪ Designing software that holds up in the real world

…then AI isn't complex. It’s a shortcut. You’re not learning everything from zero — you’re just adding one more tool to a foundation that’s already strong.

👉 If you’re an experienced programmer, what’s one skill that’s carried over most smoothly into AI?

(Gemini, September 1, 2025)