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The author reflects on the utility of AI tools like Google Gemini, acknowledging their value for those who struggle with writing, while expressing a personal desire to disable such features for their own writing process. A colleague's pragmatic view on not using AI for skills one wishes to maintain is also highlighted.
AI 生成摘要
作者反思了Google Gemini等AI工具的實用性，承認它們對寫作困難者有價值，但同時表達了希望為自己的寫作過程關閉這些功能的個人願望。文章也強調了一位同事的務實觀點：不將AI用於自己希望保持精通的技能上。
gilest.org
(23 January 2026)
There was going to be a moan about LLMs here. I wrote it earlier this week, after giving in to pressure from Google Gemini and granting its wish to “Refine” some words I’d written. The results weren’t great, and I grumpily churned out a few hundred words with my thoughts about that.
On reflection, that’s not helpful for anyone. Gemini and other tools like it aren’t intended for me - they’re for people who find writing hard. I find it easy. Of course I’m going to be dismissive, of course I’m going to want it to stop pestering me. Some people will welcome that.
And if I was trying to do something else I’m no good at - writing code, composing music, sewing - I’d probably welcome frequent “Refine” prompts in those contexts.
So, sure, I don’t value LLM words for my own purposes, but I can see why some people might. I wish Google would let me switch it off though.
Wise words from a colleague this week: “I don’t use AI for anything I want to remain good at.” A much more pragmatic view.
~
This morning I ran a workshop with another cohort going through the open working programme by Third Sector Lab; this is a thing I do every few months and it’s always a fun session. Participants are usually a mixed bag of people from a mixed bag of organisations, mostly small charities. It’s always interesting to hear what their comms problems might be. I encourage them to articulate things that might be blockers to openness, and we spend a little time trying to find ways to unblock those things.
The Third Sector Lab team encourage participants to write weeknotes, and it’s always a joy to see a bunch of fresh new weeknoters emerging into the world.
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What else?
We used a feature toggle so we could turn digital invites on for a day, then turn it off again. When it was off, CSMS went back to sending paper letters.
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Some photos I took in December and didn’t put anywhere:
giles (at) gilest.org
🗜️