The author reflects on the deep familiarity early computer users had with their machines, gained by overcoming technical challenges to make software run, contrasting this with today's highly accommodating AI-driven tools that require no such effort or understanding. While some lament a loss of hands-on competence, the author argues that what is truly fading is the intimate, hard-earned acquaintance with machines—a relationship built through difficulty and struggle. This shift means modern users will depend more on technology but know it far less than previous generations did.
The Last People Who Know How It Works
