AI policy

I'm fluent in using LLMs and other generative AI tools in the early stages of drafting technical content. However, I do not use AI tools to design, write, or structure final content. I have the final input on everything I produce, to ensure that your content is clear, accurate, and high quality, and that it meets the highest ethical and legal standards.

If you have an existing AI policy, I'll work with that. If you don't yet have an AI policy, I'm happy to help you develop one while we work, so we can determine how and when to use LLMs for drafting and editing content, and whether to feed commercially sensitive information about your company or your product into AI tools.

I sometimes use LLMs for broad initial subject matter research. I request and check sources for all information, and I fact-check all technical information with subject matter experts or human-written resources.

Rationale

I have many concerns about LLMs and generative AI tools, including their technical inaccuracy, their data training ethics, and their environmental impact. I also have concerns about their impact on human cognitive functioning, creativity, and mental health.

My own experiments indicate that AI tools produce technical content that looks great until you pay attention to it. Users tend to pay quite close attention to technical docs, so AI-written docs often need a lot of editing work. I recommend Fabrizio Benedetti's blog post The writing was always the cheap part for a deep dive into how LLMs can't replace human intutition and expertise.

However, I accept that it's not realistic to completely reject these tools in the current tech landscape. It's a difficult balance. Like everyone else, I'm still figuring it out.

I'm open to discussing specific approaches with clients who have their own requirements around AI use. I hope my current policy provides reassurance that I use AI tools thoughtfully and intentionally.