Pluralistic: AI and amateurism (15 Jun 2026)
9 hours ago
- The author's lifelong involvement with technology, from a cardboard computer to digital rights activism, shapes his perspective on AI.
- Cyberpunk's dualism—technology as both liberating and oppressive—is key to understanding AI's potential and pitfalls.
- Tools like Hypercard and Scratch empower non-programmers to create software that meets their specific needs, a principle extended by 'vibe coding' for personal projects.
- Vibe coding is valuable for personal automation but is misrepresented by industry hype as a replacement for professional software development.
- The AI industry focuses on centralization and homogenization, while local models and amateur tinkering preserve idiosyncrasy and user control.