Very well written perspective. And yeah, I’m going to assume an AI didn’t write it 😂
I heard this and it sticks, the idea that every extension of technology is also an amputation. GPS is the easiest example. We used to plan trips, actually think through routes, hold maps in our heads. Now we outsource that to tech. We gain efficiency, sure, but we give something up in the process. Is that good or bad? Hard to say. Maybe it just is.
People often bring up the Amish. They mostly reject modern tech. Are they better off? Happier? How would you even measure that in a meaningful way?
LLMs feel similar. They absolutely increase productivity, but at what cost? And for who? I don’t think it’s a binary answer. There’s still value in both approaches. The hard part is figuring out where the balance actually lives.
I was told at a young age there was something “wrong” with my brain. ADHD. Easily distracted. Always chasing squirrels. Later in life I realized that was really just curiosity showing up. Pattern seeking and connecting dots.
LLMs give me capabilities I didn’t have before. I usually understood the high level ideas, but I never had the discipline to grind through every tiny programming detail. What I can do is synthesize the macro pieces and see how they fit together. I’m also not a great artist in the sense of creating aesthetic works, but I deeply appreciate people who are.
Point is, we all have a role in the journey. I’m not in the same ballpark as you when it comes to deep programming skill, and honestly I’m not that interested in that part of it. I would rather outsource that part and focus on what I am good at.
So yeah, I think you’re right. But I don’t think that means we’re doomed. Just like the internet and social media over the last 20 years, some good will come out of this and some bad will too. We just have to learn how to build, how to adapt, and how to stay effective, efficient, and human while we’re at it.
