Rich Hickey's October 11, 2026 article "'AI' is Not a Tool" argued that LLMs are automation rather than tools because they cannot be wielded. This response counters that LLMs can be wielded with skill, comparing them to saws and chisels whose usefulness depends on the operator. The author contends that automation can be a feature of a tool, as with compilers and spreadsheets, and that skilled use involves feedback loops directed by humans.
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