The question I want answered is using [[LLMs]] just another form of [[consumerism]], or is it actually a tool? Before we begin I would like to define a couple things. Consumerism in this context, is the modern approach to how people perceive you should develop a skill. You watch a Youtube video, look for recommended products, look up the "best" product or tool, all without every actually doing anything. A tool is traditionally a device that aids in accomplishing a task. I think on first glance it's easy to maybe assume that generative AI is just a tool. I mean it helps you create the things you want to create. Or does it really? # It creates what you want Is an interesting idea, especially since you're telling it what you want, but what it outputs is just the average of everything it's been trained on colored by your specificity. Then you look at it, and like looking at a test with the answers you to the trick of "ah yes I knew that". # It's a tool, like a calculator or hammer This is another insidious thing to say. It's a little true too, if all you know is addition, subtraction and division then it may be true. But the issue is a calculator is only as useful as your knowledge, you need to understand how and when to use a formula. Contrast that with an LLM, which you give it the end results that you want and you don't need to understand anything about how it gets to that result. That's also why it doesn't really **create what you want**, it creates and gives you something to pick from. # But that's how you learn things Is it though? There's a legitimate case for watching something to learn how to do a thing, or doing research on a tool for something you're already doing. The big distinction is that you're likely already doing or learning to do the thing. In using an LLM, you're never actually doing the first step, you're jumping straight to the end result. # Conclusion To soften this a little, I think it's softly OK to use LLMs for something you just have no desire to learn, if you just want to make a thing just so it's made. That's fine. But the key is here is to not confuse it with you learning anything, nor did you really create it. And in my opinion, the whole reason why you set out to do a thing is to learn how to get better at doing a thing. Not just the end result of the thing, how is that any different from just purchasing a product? ![[you-made-thisi-made-this.jpg]]