How many NYT Spelling Bees are left?

The author used AI to determine the number of possible New York Times Spelling Bee puzzles. The initial AI response provided an overestimate, prompting a deeper analysis. The author realized combinatorics alone wouldn't suffice and opted to write code, leveraging AI for assistance. Key properties of the puzzle, such as the presence of a pangram and the absence of 'S', were used to refine the problem. AI helped locate a suitable word list for the code. The code counted unique seven-letter combinations forming at least one pangram. The final result, considering the 'S' constraint, indicated approximately 161 years' worth of puzzles. Relaxing this constraint yielded over 327 years. This project reinforced the author's view of AI as a cognitive tool, not a replacement for thinking. The author believes AI's ability to solve puzzles won't diminish interest in those puzzles. The author concludes that AI enhances problem-solving capabilities rather than hindering them.