It’s the same with math. A lot of people say they don’t need to be able to do basic arithmetic because they can use a calculator. But I think that you can process the world much better and faster if at a minimum you have some intuition about numbers and arithmetic.

It’s the same with a lot of other things. AI and search engines help a lot but you are at an advantage if at least you have some ability to gauge what should be possible and how to do it.

I used to find it weird how many people would make an excel formula on data they couldn't intuitively check. Like even basic level 'what percentage increase is a8 from a7' - they enter a formula then don't know if it's correct. I always wrote formulas on numbers I can reason with. If a8 is 120, and a7 is 100 you can immediately tell if you've gone wrong. Then you change for 1,387 and 1,252 and know it's going to be accurate.

People do the same with AI, ask it about something they know little about then assume it is correct, rather than checking their ideas with known values or concepts they might be able to error check.

With or without calculator some people have an aversion to calculation and that's the problem in my opinion. How much bullshit you can refute with back of the envelope calculations is remarkable.

This, and knowing by heart all the simple formulas/rules for area/volume/density and energy measurements.

The classic example being pizza diameter.