A few days ago I mentioned playing around with local AI models, despite having low strength hardware for the task. Yesterday I was trying our some new models - tinyllama and smollm2 - and I asked each model the same question to compare the answers. After doing this for a few questions, I had the same feeling I always have when I’m doing a repetitious task: computers would excel at this!

I used to love the Pocast Go Time, especially when they would venture into general tech topics. A couple years ago, the podcast ended and some of the hosts formed a new podcast called Fallthrough. They have covered AI extensively over the past few months in a very logical, thought-out manner. These episodes have been transformative in my understanding of how those of us in the tech world should be thinking about AI. The hosts themselves have changed their opinion from completely dismissing AI in programming to using it extensively in their careers. Each host and/or guest on the show has been very thoughtful in the way they use the technology, recognizing its benefits and pitfalls. I highly recommend the episode with Bill Kennedy as one of the most influential episodes in changing how I understand how to use AI when programming. Combining what I’ve heard in those episodes with what I learned in a class I took on TalkPython Training, I’ve been trying to think through how I can make use of AI to make my life better - the same way I solve problems in my life through writing my own programs, bash scripts, etc. (This is not to ignore the issues with AI, including data center power/space/cooling/water issues, but there are many things I use in the world that have problematic issues - such as technology or clothing that is probably at least somewhere in the supply chain involving slave labor or other unsavory practices or environmental issues)