The oxygen from the air diffuses into your bloodstreams, is used for cellular respiration, and is transformed into carbon dioxide.
First, they wait and look and listen until they’re inspired to work. They step up to the canvas and make a few brushstrokes.
And repeat. This cycle of taking something in (observing), transforming it (planning), and sending something out (painting).
What if we applied this cycle to LLM chatbots? I think most people use chatbots only as a way to steer somewhere. Answer a question, edit some text, write a function, explain a concept, etc. I have, historically. But, more and more, I’m realizing that LLMs can be a great tool for thought. A wonderful brainstorming partner.
Instead of using them as a way to solve X, what happens if we use them the way we use conversation? Getting thoughts out of our heads, listening to their responses, and reacting to them? Like sketching while thinking — the focus isn’t on "creating something". Gaining distance from thoughts as a way to evolve them. A good tool for thought is an extension of your mind.
What might this look like? Let’s examine how to use an LLM chatbot to plan a piece of writing: a collection of concepts, arranged in a structure. Take this piece on Why Chatbots Are Not the Future as an example. There is a main thesis (chatbots aren’t the ultimate UI) that is reinforced by a few main points: