"(If you want to use AI to help you solve puzzles, I can't really stop you, but I feel like it's harder to get better at programming if you ask an AI to do the programming for you.)"
I'd say that whatever "better at programming" is quickly evolving. AI is a tool like high level languages, IDEs, autocomplete or all the different types of code analyzers. How is ignoring a powerful tool like AI going to get you better at programming?
Programmers who think they are better programmers without AI may quickly be replaced with "lesser" programmers who get things done much quicker.
I'd say that whatever "better at programming" is quickly evolving. AI is a tool like high level languages, IDEs, autocomplete or all the different types of code analyzers. How is ignoring a powerful tool like AI going to get you better at programming?
Programmers who think they are better programmers without AI may quickly be replaced with "lesser" programmers who get things done much quicker.