Use AI to Fix Code That Does Not Work

When your code does not work, do not just stare at it. Show it to AI. AI is amazing at spotting bugs — typos, missed brackets, logic errors.

Some examples

• 'My code does not run. Here is the error message and the code.'
• 'My code runs but does not do what I expected. What went wrong?'
• 'I think my loop is wrong. Help me see why.'
• 'Why does this work for some inputs but not others?'

Try it!

Next time your code breaks, paste it into AI with the error. Notice how fast AI spots the issue.

The best way to describe a bug to AI

Showing broken code to AI is like taking a sick plant to a gardener — the more info you give, the better the diagnosis. Just pasting code and saying 'it doesn't work' rarely gives the best results. The magic formula is three parts: the code itself, the exact error message, and what you expected to happen versus what actually happened. 'My Python says NameError: name x is not defined on line 7, but I already defined x on line 3' gives AI everything it needs to spot that you defined x inside a function and then tried to use it outside (a scope problem). Without that context, AI has to guess. Beyond fixing bugs, AI can also explain why the bug happened and how to avoid the same type of error in the future. This is how good coders learn — not just by fixing the current bug, but by understanding the category of mistake so they can recognize it faster next time.

• Always include the exact error message — don't paraphrase it
• Paste the smallest chunk of code that reproduces the bug, not your entire project
• Tell AI what you expected to happen and what actually happened instead
• After the fix, ask 'why did this error happen?' to learn the concept, not just the answer

Bugs are small mistakes in code that make stuff break. They can be sneaky! AI is super helpful for hunting bugs because it can read your code carefully and point to where things look wrong.

Some examples

• AI spots a typo like 'pirnt' instead of 'print'.
• AI catches a missing bracket or quote mark.
• AI notices when you use a variable that doesn't exist yet.
• AI explains why the bug is causing trouble.

Try it!

Ask a parent or teacher to write a small piece of code with one mistake. Try to spot it yourself first. Then ask AI to find it. Did you both find the same thing?

Did you know coders keep rubber ducks on their desks? They explain their code to the duck — and finding the bug becomes easy. AI is a duck that talks back. Even better!

Some examples

• You: 'My code adds wrong numbers.'
• AI: 'Show me the line.'
• You read it out — and spot the bug yourself!
• Even just typing it out helps.

Try it!

Got a tricky problem (any kind)? Try explaining it to AI step by step.

Here's why "Coders Explain Their Code to a Rubber Duck — Now AI" matters: AI can help you write, fix, and understand code faster than ever — even if you're just learning. Saying your bug out loud helps you find it — AI is the ultimate rubber duck — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.

• Learn what "debugging" means and why it's important
• Learn what "explaining" means and why it's important
• Learn what "stuck" means and why it's important

1. 1Ask AI to explain what a 'loop' does in simple words
2. 2Try asking AI to fix a bug in a few lines of code
3. 3Ask AI to write a simple 'Hello World' program in any language

AI is amazing at spotting tiny typos in code — even ones humans miss for hours.

Some examples

• Missing a comma? AI finds it fast.
• Wrong word like 'pirnt' instead of 'print'? AI catches it.
• Brackets in the wrong place? AI sees it.
• AI can save coders hours of typo-hunting.

Try it!

If you ever try coding with a grown-up, ask AI 'find any typos in this code.' Watch it work!

Here's why "How AI Spots a Typo in Your Code" matters: AI can help you write, fix, and understand code faster than ever — even if you're just learning. AI is great at finding tiny code mistakes — and knowing how to apply this gives you a concrete advantage.

• Learn what "debugging" means and why it's important
• Learn what "typos" means and why it's important
• Learn what "AI coding" means and why it's important

1. 1Ask AI to explain what a 'loop' does in simple words
2. 2Try asking AI to fix a bug in a few lines of code
3. 3Ask AI to write a simple 'Hello World' program in any language

Even if AI writes the code, you have to read it to catch mistakes. AI's code can have bugs or do the wrong thing.

Some examples

• AI might write code that runs but does the WRONG thing.
• AI might use a function that doesn't exist (a hallucination).
• Reading the code teaches YOU how it works.
• If you don't understand AI's code, you can't fix it later.

Try it!

If AI writes code for you, ask 'Explain this code to me line by line.' Then YOU teach it back to a friend!