I had a weekend like that a while ago too. I used Claude Code to build an app to help me with all of my food intolerances and from there it spiraled a bit, it can do quite amazing things. The app is helpful and I use it every day, but for the other things I have stepped back again. I think it's good though to use it and to know what it is capable of.
Yes, I think I understand the spiral part! It's great for these small, personalized apps for one or two users. And it's quite fun, too, because you can make it just the way you like it. I agree that we should all try it out and see what it can do. I'm thinking of writing a piece soon on ways to use AI mindfully.
I think if we don't use it at all we risk not knowing anything about it and risk getting behind, it's the whole "know your enemy" thing for me. Using AI mindfully would be an interesting piece!
I don’t keep any AI app on my phone. Or even as shortcuts. Maybe that’s why I’m still not as addicted to it. I am also trying to not use it for any creative work. For certain things it definitely is useful and quicker than a normal google search but I’m just being cautious as I do fear complete dependancy.
Not having an AI app is a smart move! But nowadays, a Google search returns results from an AI anyway, though one can scroll past them. Maybe we can look for a boost rather than a dependency. I'm still brewing on this thought, stay tuned!
I was having a conversation with a friend the other day about AI. I'm someone who refuses to use AI. Not only do I not wish for my ability to think be taken away, there's also the environment to think about. I'm happy just using Ecosia (because Google doesn't give users the choice to remove the automated AI at the top of every search) to search for anything I need to know. I was happy to learn that my friend doesn't use it either. But then later on she told me she has no choice but to use it at work, because it helps with workflows, etc. I think if it's used mindfully, or when it really helps with one's work, it's no problem. But if AI is used to take away our humanity, the way to think for ourselves, I feel there's something deeper to think about (not through AI).
Thanks for your input, Elaine. I totally understand the refusal. But since I'm a techie, I've embraced AI (LLMs) pretty early and have found a lot of use for it, which I hope does not reduce my independence of mind or my connection with people. You made me think again about mindful usage of AI—I might write about it!
I have crossed an imaginary line with you. I’m learning how easy it is to fall down the AI rabbit hole 🫠 honestly, it feels like my pocket validating cheerleader so of course it’s going to feed my desire to want to come back.
I’m still exploring what I want the relationship to look like ( strange to use ‘relationship’ because Claude isn’t a human 😅). In the meantime, I’m challenging myself to stay grounded by drawing and writing a little bit each day.
The line about feeling "feasted but somehow still hungry" stayed with me. It captures something I think a lot of people are noticing but struggling to describe. AI can answer questions, organize thoughts, and even provide a kind of companionship, yet it often leaves untouched the part of us that wanted another person rather than another response.
I really get the temptation to use AI. I have started using it in my day job and I'm still conflicted about it, honestly. On one hand it's been helpful with some tedious tasks and to dig through data in what otherwise would take me ours. I have put a hard boundary in place with my creative/personal writing because I can see the potential to rely on it/stifle my thinking.
Yes, you nailed it on what AI is useful for without costing us our brains and creativity. But there's always the temptation, after combing through data, to ask it to summarize, give key points, and even provide insights. And that's where the line starts to blur.
There's no replacing human connections, really. At work I function like a content engineer (though, sadly without the glamarous pay and title). I build AI agents and AI-powered workflows to manage content creation in my company. Cognitively, it has been an immense help for me during times when I'm particularly struggling with health issues, such as last year before I landed in hospital.
But I don't use it for human connection or for chatting at all. I view it as a colleague whom I work with. I treat it with respect too. However, AI can make me live in my head even more than I'm doing now (I naturally tend to overthink/think too much). So I make myself go out and hang out with friends. Like yesterday, when I bought some kuih and had an impromptu tea time with friends at the coworking space I work in.
I write a lot about AI because it has brought me a lot of joy in my writing. I can create so much better now because I have "something" to bounce ideas with. It's no longer as "lonely" as it used to be. Maybe this is partly also because I've always had problems being a part of the fiction writing community with their quarrelsome, ego-driven ways. I've always felt more comfortable with technicians and engineers, for some reason. Maybe because as someone who deals with content like an engineer, I relate to the way they think, and they can relate to me too.
I loved this, Rachel—especially the way you broke down who you would rather be talking to, how you would rather be having those conversations. It was such a beautiful articulation of longing, and I thought, "yeah! that's what I miss!" I just took wi-fi off my phone for a two week detox to see how it affects my attention. And I currently am keeping AI at arms length—mostly because there are plans to put a data center here on our lake and it's made the other side of it more real.
Thanks, Rebecca! A two-week break is brave; tell us how it goes. And there is nothing like a physical data center to remind us of what we are doing in the virtual world.
I had a weekend like that a while ago too. I used Claude Code to build an app to help me with all of my food intolerances and from there it spiraled a bit, it can do quite amazing things. The app is helpful and I use it every day, but for the other things I have stepped back again. I think it's good though to use it and to know what it is capable of.
Yes, I think I understand the spiral part! It's great for these small, personalized apps for one or two users. And it's quite fun, too, because you can make it just the way you like it. I agree that we should all try it out and see what it can do. I'm thinking of writing a piece soon on ways to use AI mindfully.
I think if we don't use it at all we risk not knowing anything about it and risk getting behind, it's the whole "know your enemy" thing for me. Using AI mindfully would be an interesting piece!
I don’t keep any AI app on my phone. Or even as shortcuts. Maybe that’s why I’m still not as addicted to it. I am also trying to not use it for any creative work. For certain things it definitely is useful and quicker than a normal google search but I’m just being cautious as I do fear complete dependancy.
Not having an AI app is a smart move! But nowadays, a Google search returns results from an AI anyway, though one can scroll past them. Maybe we can look for a boost rather than a dependency. I'm still brewing on this thought, stay tuned!
I was having a conversation with a friend the other day about AI. I'm someone who refuses to use AI. Not only do I not wish for my ability to think be taken away, there's also the environment to think about. I'm happy just using Ecosia (because Google doesn't give users the choice to remove the automated AI at the top of every search) to search for anything I need to know. I was happy to learn that my friend doesn't use it either. But then later on she told me she has no choice but to use it at work, because it helps with workflows, etc. I think if it's used mindfully, or when it really helps with one's work, it's no problem. But if AI is used to take away our humanity, the way to think for ourselves, I feel there's something deeper to think about (not through AI).
Thanks for your input, Elaine. I totally understand the refusal. But since I'm a techie, I've embraced AI (LLMs) pretty early and have found a lot of use for it, which I hope does not reduce my independence of mind or my connection with people. You made me think again about mindful usage of AI—I might write about it!
I have crossed an imaginary line with you. I’m learning how easy it is to fall down the AI rabbit hole 🫠 honestly, it feels like my pocket validating cheerleader so of course it’s going to feed my desire to want to come back.
I’m still exploring what I want the relationship to look like ( strange to use ‘relationship’ because Claude isn’t a human 😅). In the meantime, I’m challenging myself to stay grounded by drawing and writing a little bit each day.
🫶
Hi Steph, thanks for chiming in! The imaginary line is the tricky part.
Been loving your drawings! And let's keep writing :)
Yes! Let’s keep writing!! Who needs Claude when there’s Rachel and Stephanie 🙊🫶
The line about feeling "feasted but somehow still hungry" stayed with me. It captures something I think a lot of people are noticing but struggling to describe. AI can answer questions, organize thoughts, and even provide a kind of companionship, yet it often leaves untouched the part of us that wanted another person rather than another response.
Glad it resonated. And you're right there; all we need sometimes is just another person.
I really get the temptation to use AI. I have started using it in my day job and I'm still conflicted about it, honestly. On one hand it's been helpful with some tedious tasks and to dig through data in what otherwise would take me ours. I have put a hard boundary in place with my creative/personal writing because I can see the potential to rely on it/stifle my thinking.
Yes, you nailed it on what AI is useful for without costing us our brains and creativity. But there's always the temptation, after combing through data, to ask it to summarize, give key points, and even provide insights. And that's where the line starts to blur.
There's no replacing human connections, really. At work I function like a content engineer (though, sadly without the glamarous pay and title). I build AI agents and AI-powered workflows to manage content creation in my company. Cognitively, it has been an immense help for me during times when I'm particularly struggling with health issues, such as last year before I landed in hospital.
But I don't use it for human connection or for chatting at all. I view it as a colleague whom I work with. I treat it with respect too. However, AI can make me live in my head even more than I'm doing now (I naturally tend to overthink/think too much). So I make myself go out and hang out with friends. Like yesterday, when I bought some kuih and had an impromptu tea time with friends at the coworking space I work in.
I write a lot about AI because it has brought me a lot of joy in my writing. I can create so much better now because I have "something" to bounce ideas with. It's no longer as "lonely" as it used to be. Maybe this is partly also because I've always had problems being a part of the fiction writing community with their quarrelsome, ego-driven ways. I've always felt more comfortable with technicians and engineers, for some reason. Maybe because as someone who deals with content like an engineer, I relate to the way they think, and they can relate to me too.
I loved this, Rachel—especially the way you broke down who you would rather be talking to, how you would rather be having those conversations. It was such a beautiful articulation of longing, and I thought, "yeah! that's what I miss!" I just took wi-fi off my phone for a two week detox to see how it affects my attention. And I currently am keeping AI at arms length—mostly because there are plans to put a data center here on our lake and it's made the other side of it more real.
Thanks, Rebecca! A two-week break is brave; tell us how it goes. And there is nothing like a physical data center to remind us of what we are doing in the virtual world.