Where I don’t use generative AI

  • Writing blog posts
  • Creating or brainstorming design elements
  • Creating or brainstorming visuals
  • Brainstorming ideas for blog posts
  • Rewriting or editing blog posts
  • Grammar-checking English writing

Where I do use generative AI

  • Debugging Hugo, which this site is built in. I see why people like Hugo, but it is very picky about structure and naming in a way that I would not otherwise notice. I would not have been able to design this site the way I wanted without LLM debugging assistance.
  • Creating a reading list to get started in my research on a topic
  • Creating a “syllabus” of sorts to learn a new topic from other sources
  • Formatting lists of sources
  • Creating a summary/tagline for a post that is already written
  • Tedious, repetitive coding tasks I could program but don’t have time to learn to program (for example, reformatting a list of color mixins in SCSS)
  • Grammar-checking German writing

Why I chose this

I do not use generative AI to create any content that you would read, see, or hear. Here is my reasoning:

  • AI has a massive ecological footprint. My brain also has a pretty big ecological footprint, even though I bike a lot and don’t eat meat, but feeding my brain and moving my body are not optional, whereas using generative AI is.
  • AI may make me look smarter to you online (I said “may”), but heavy AI usage will make me less smart in real life. I need my brain. It is the only one I have.
  • I personally dislike the way it feels to read AI writing. It feels to me like choking down a cookie-dough-flavored protein bar, or listening to Kenny G while on hold with customer service: the attempt to make me feel pleasure actually makes me feel gross. For me, a pleasurable read is imperfect and isn’t trying too hard to please me. I like unexpected word choices and phrasing that makes me chuckle or snort. I don’t mind a few mistkaes when I’m readign. So I’m writing for you what I would want to read. (Possibly my dislike of AI writing is tautological: I don’t like writing that I can tell is AI, but I’m not annoyed by the AI writing that I can’t identify as AI.)