# mechanisation of intellectual tasks: • slide rule—relieved the burden upon the intellectual by replacing the tedious, error-prone manual manipulation of numbe
The mechanization of intellectual tasks has progressed through several stages, from the slide rule and calculator to digital computers and web search engines. More recently, automated theorem provers have taken over manual proof steps for mathematicians. The latest development is AI code generators, which are described as replacing the programmer's intellect with automated button pushes for once-intellectual tasks. AI
IMPACT AI code generators are framed as replacing programmer intellect, potentially leading to a deskilling of the profession.