How I Use Generative AI on This Blog: A Developer's Honest Approach

I've been watching several developers share their approaches to using generative AI in their writing workflows, and I thought it would be valuable to contribute my own perspective. This is particularly relevant in our community where we constantly evaluate tools and technologies, weighing their benefits against their drawbacks.

My Complex Relationship with Generative AI

Let me be clear about my stance: I believe generative AI, like any technology, comes with significant tradeoffs. In fact, I think the cons substantially outweigh the pros. If I could wave a magic wand, I'd prefer a world without generative AI entirely.

However, I still use it. This might seem hypocritical at first glance, but I think there's nuance here worth exploring. At work, I'm effectively required to use these tools. But I've also chosen to incorporate them into my personal blog writing process.

Why would someone who's critical of a technology still use it? For me, it comes down to two main reasons:

First, I believe these tools can actually produce better writing when used correctly. The key phrase here is "when used correctly"—more on that shortly.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, I want to be an effective critic of this technology. Specifically, I'm interested in changing the minds of what I call "AI maxxers"—people who are enthusiastic maximalists about AI capabilities. If I never used these tools myself, AI enthusiasts would dismiss my criticism as uninformed.

There's something powerful about critique coming from someone who uses a technology they wish didn't exist. I feel genuine discomfort and tension about this position, and I hope that comes through in my writing.

My Specific Approach to Using AI for Writing

I've developed a simple but strict rule of thumb: the final product must be word-for-word what I would have written without AI, given enough time.

This constraint fundamentally shapes how I use these tools. I'm not using them to generate content or to create something I couldn't have written myself. Instead, I'm using them as sophisticated writing aids.

Here are the two main ways I incorporate AI into my writing process:

Like a thesaurus on steroids: Sometimes I know what I want to say but can't quite find the right word or phrase. For example, I recently needed an alternative way to describe a book that was "overly positive" or "not critical of its subject matter." I asked the AI for suggestions and ended up using "flattering" in my final draft. The AI didn't write my sentence—it just helped me find a better word.

Quick brainstorming for specifics: When I'm writing and need concrete examples or additional ideas, I'll sometimes ask for suggestions. In a recent post about software errors, I was listing types of errors and asked for more examples. I picked "null pointer exceptions" from the many suggestions provided and discarded the rest. Again, the AI didn't write my content—it just helped me brainstorm more efficiently.

Technical Preferences

I prefer using local models that run on my phone and laptop whenever possible. This gives me more control over my data and avoids some of the privacy concerns associated with cloud-based services. It also means I can work offline and don't have to worry about API rate limits or costs.

Why This Matters to Our Community

As developers, we're constantly evaluating tools and making decisions about which technologies to adopt. My approach to AI writing tools reflects a broader pattern I see in our community: thoughtful, critical adoption of technology rather than wholesale rejection or blind embrace.

I think there's value in sharing these nuanced perspectives. Too often, technology discussions devolve into extreme positions—either complete rejection or uncritical enthusiasm. The reality for most of us is somewhere in between.

By being transparent about how I use these tools, I hope to contribute to a more honest conversation about their role in our workflows. I also hope it demonstrates that you can be critical of a technology while still finding limited, specific uses for it.

This post will likely evolve as the technology changes and as I refine my approach. But the core principle remains: using AI as a tool to enhance my writing, not to replace my thinking or my voice.