Having an initial higher level understanding across the domain is extremely useful to contextualize the deeper stuff. I think boring details is a very leaky characterization, but I'll continue with it.

In my experience it's infinitely easier and faster to learn deep, "boring" things when you understand how they relate to your shallow and wide understanding of all of the related components.

The LLM is merely a tool. And you can use it for domain discovery that enables efficient deep learning at an unprecedented rate or you can develop a cursory understanding of a topic and think yourself an expert.

I’ve found that if I’m not struggling I’m not learning. If stuff is coming fast and easy that’s a sign that what I’m doing is not stretching existing skills enough.

It’s true of most things. Running, dieting, weightlifting being uncomfortable is a sign of progress.

> The biggest thing I've learned from doing stuff like this is that there are no shortcuts. At some point or another, to truly learn something deeply, you've got to dig in to the boring details and do things the hard way.

This is the only path to mastery, or understanding if one prefers. There are no shortcuts to a person achieving deep understanding (a.k.a. "Aha!" moments).

Can a tool such as GenAI be beneficial to someone who already has done the work to understand? Absolutely. But it cannot infuse mastery into a person simply by its use.

Only the time and effort a person devotes can do that.

Quite - you still have to do the work yourself. I think LLMs are best placed to act as an eager tutor that doesn't mind discussing a topic ad nauseam until you're certain you understand it.

yes i've found that there are a few topics that i've really been able probably 10x my understanding of using LLMs, in particular in getting me over hoops that are hard to navigate when solo, BUT I have to be really careful for it to not just show me the answer all the time.