2 days ago
- The author finds deep fulfillment in making things himself, but feels AI-generated work does not count as 'making' because he only initiated it.
- He distinguishes between using tools (like compilers or hammers) which are part of making, and asking others (humans or AI) to create something, which feels like delegating.
- The skill of prompting is real, but it is the skill of asking, not of making, and thus less fulfilling.
- He provides examples: a hand-coded flashcard app (177 lines) gives him pride, while AI-generated code does not.
- The gray area of compilers and assembly code is discussed, but the author feels that AI's human-like interaction shifts the relationship from tool to agent.
- He concludes by pondering the importance of the act of making vs. directing, and quotes Douglas Adams.