Glyph Lefkowitz: I Think I’m Done Thinking About genAI For Now

The author, a programmer, identifies with Monk's problem-solving style: meticulously gathering details and obsessively pursuing inconsistencies until a solution emerges. This approach, while initially self-soothing, often proves effective in creating valuable outcomes. Currently, the author grapples with the pervasive and frustrating genAI discourse, unable to reconcile their negative experiences with seemingly positive accounts from others. The author aims to articulate their perspective, explain their inability to build a compelling counter-argument, highlight the discourse's contentious nature, and ultimately, gain permission to disengage. Recent "anti-anti-genAI" articles, while well-intentioned, fail to address substantial criticisms like climate impact and disinformation. The author's negative bias towards genAI's aesthetic qualities, encompassing both output and process, further complicates their assessment. The author finds the experience of using genAI for software development intensely unpleasant, citing numerous failures and demoralizing interactions. Even hypothetically assuming ethical sourcing and minimal environmental impact, the author still finds the process of using genAI for coding profoundly unappealing, highlighting their preference for collaborative code review. The author concludes that their visceral negative reaction cannot be easily dismissed, leaving the debate unresolved. The lack of compelling evidence and the vast differences in personal experiences make a conclusive resolution challenging.