One Useful Thing – Notes on the Practical Wisdom of AI Use – “There are several types of work where AI can be particularly useful, given the current capabilities and limitations of LLMs. Though this list is based in science, it draws even more from experience. Like any form of wisdom, using AI well requires holding opposing ideas in mind: it can be transformative yet must be approached with skepticism, powerful yet prone to subtle failures, essential for some tasks yet actively harmful for others. I also want to caveat that you shouldn’t take this list too seriously except as inspiration – you know your own situation best, and local knowledge matters more than any general principles…Before diving into the specific cases where AI use is problematic, we can set aside the obvious scenarios – using AI for illegal purposes, in high-stakes situations where errors could be catastrophic, or for decisions that ethically require human work. Beyond these clear-cut cases, here are five subtle but important areas where AI use can be counterproductive…”