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tech 30 August 2026

What My Dad Taught Me About AI Coding in the 90s

In the 90s, when AI was still an emerging concept, my dad taught me principles that still resonate today in modern software development. Discover how his lessons influence our current approach to AI.

Article inspired by the original source
What my dad taught me about AI coding in the 90s ↗ askmike.org

Introduction

In the 90s, artificial intelligence was still in its infancy, a domain reserved for researchers and tech enthusiasts. My dad, a tech enthusiast himself, introduced me to this discipline long before it became ubiquitous. Through chess, I learned foundational lessons that still resonate today in AI development. Here's how these lessons translate into our current world.

Chess Lessons and Artificial Intelligence

Playing chess with my dad taught me to think strategically and understand the complex relationships between pieces rather than just memorizing their positions. This approach is similar to how AI models, like neural networks, analyze data. They do not merely store information but seek to understand the underlying relationships.

Spatial Working Memory and Pattern Recognition

Chess players, much like AI programmers, need an excellent spatial working memory and the ability to recognize patterns. These skills allow them to anticipate several moves ahead or understand how an AI model might process complex data. In 2023, the evolution of language models like GPT-4 highlights the importance of pattern recognition, which is central to the continuous improvement of these models.

The Evolution of Coding and AI

In the 90s, coding meant a deep understanding of hardware, managing memory, and optimizing every line of code. Today, the emergence of high-level languages and AI tools has transformed this approach. Developers can now focus more on business logic than on technical details, thanks to tools like TensorFlow or PyTorch that facilitate the development of complex applications.

The Rise of LLMs and Their Impact

Since the rise of large language models (LLMs) like GPT-3 and GPT-4, AI-assisted coding has become increasingly common. A developer can now generate code more intuitively, reducing errors and speeding up the development process. However, to maximize efficiency, it is crucial to understand the limitations of these tools and ensure that the generated code meets the required specifications.

Conclusion

The lessons my dad taught me through chess continue to influence the way I approach software development today. AI has transformed our way of coding, but the fundamental principles remain the same. Understanding relationships and mastering the tools used are essential to succeed in this ever-evolving field.

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