> Do you think that AI only helps with the coding bit, helps with the thinking bits, or helps with neither?

Both. I’m effectively using AI to generate code and to help me reason through design options.

> If AI generates code faster than the time it takes to read it more than once, then it isn't "helping" in terms of sustainability

This seems rather reductionist, especially as in this scenario you described we went from reading code 3 times reading at once. If reading the code is actually the bottleneck, then you described a 3X speed up.

> Isn't this how the author is using it?

Which author are you referring to? agentultra seems to be not using it at all.