Powerful AI tools magnify user capabilities. For an expert, this means efficiency; for a novice, it means a greater capacity for causing significant damage much faster than with manual methods. Expertise is required to wield powerful tools safely, whether they're for construction or computing.
AI does not replace the need for foundational knowledge; it accelerates work for those with existing expertise. To use AI tools effectively, the operator must understand the underlying principles of the task to guide the tool, validate its output, and avoid critical errors.
An AI assistant suggested putting a database password in plain text—a critical security flaw an experienced developer would immediately reject. This demonstrates that relying on AI without a deep understanding of best practices can lead to amateur mistakes and severe vulnerabilities.