"Get good at something" no longer works: AI erodes mastery as a mental health anchor

zetalyrae · x · 2026-09-23

A viral reflection on beating depression through mastering math and coding — keeping the mind occupied until dark feelings faded — ends with a bleak note: "That will never work again," implying AI is eroding the sense of mastery and value those skills once provided. The post, retweeted by zetalyrae, sparked discussion about skill value and mental health in the AI era.

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