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by atleastoptimal3 hours ago |
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upvoteby didibus1 hours ago|
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Yes, Rich says so explicitly as his reply to a comment:

> Rich Hickey: Toolness is a spectrum. The more using a thing is like ordering a sandwich, the less it is a tool. And yes, cars are decreasingly tools.

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upvoteby pixl973 hours ago|
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How about this, if you're using an agentic AI as a tool, be careful as it may stop being a tool.
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upvoteby rdtsc1 hours ago|
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> How about this, if you're using an agentic AI as a tool, be careful as it may stop being a tool.

Even more importantly, you maybe become its tool.

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upvoteby righthand1 hours ago|
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> If you're a conductor, you can view the various members of your orchestra as "tools" to produce the ideal musical output.

I disagree, humans are the operators, tools are tools. Operators use tools. A conductor is an operator that uses a baton tool to direct other operators to produce the proper sound with their musical instrument tools.

I think calling people tools is dehumanizing if anything. The only way I know people can be a tool, is through an already existing insult.

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upvoteby hug1 hours ago|
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As always when discussing the usage of English words, it's pleasing to look at Webster's 1913 dictionary, which helpfully includes this definition of "tool":

> A person used as an instrument by another person; -- a word of reproach; as, men of intrigue have their tools, by whose agency they accomplish their purposes.

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upvoteby righthand51 minutes ago|
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Okay but how is it used in society? I don’t know many people who refer to Websters. Notice your Webster’s doesn’t include the insult usage.

I see your Websters and raise you Urban Dictionary:

> That guy who makes us shake our head in disbelief but at the same time makes us feel better about ourselves since we are not him.

Please consider social and modern day usage as well when discussing English words.

Also 1913? Wow.

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upvoteby mpalmer3 hours ago|
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I'm trying in vain to find any indication in your comment that you read more than the headline.

    LLM's exist on a vast gradient of "toolness -> agent".
Sure. You can stretch the word "tool" to mean anything, but here, Hickey is using the words "tool" and "automation" to describe specific things. He defines each word precisely, for the purpose of the points he's making.
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