I agree.
That is though not what I meant.
In order to categorize an AI's answers and know whether it is giving you a right or wrong answer, you need to understand something about the subject matter you are asking it about. It's similar with language. To really understand a foreign language, translation alone is not enough for very complex topics. Bringing your own existing knowledge and experience to the table can be extremely important and tip the scales.
You've probably heard the expression “lost in translation”. I often find that although my English is good, there are nuances and translation hurdles that are difficult to overcome. But I only see this when I am already advanced. I then help the AI generated translation to be more precise in its translation, since I use AI translators myself.
Our language, for example, has a common Latin origin and is much closer to us in its differences than Arabic or Hebrew or Chinese, because our language roots have more in common.
If I read a book translated from Arabic into German, I will never find out about the translation hurdles and possible errors because I don't have the opportunity to check them.
But of course, as you say, AI overcomes a barrier that was there before.
With "dark side" I meant things like navigation devices in traffic. It's a truly helpful and practical device. While, when I never use my own sense of orientation, I will become dependent on it and may never learn to navigate with my own eyes.
I agree also with you. I do not use navigation devices but fumble along desperately reading street signs using directions laboriously recited in conversations with service providers whose services I seek.
I am also gaining familiarity with German, Italian, Spanish and other PIE languages through my use of translation services, because I inevitably see words translated and it is impossible to avoid gaining some advance in understanding by that experience.