Don't just paste the AI at me

Here's what you just did

Someone asked you a real question. They had context and all good intentions. They came to you specifically. You took their question, dumped it into a prompt box, and pasted the result back at them. Bet it felt super productive and smart, right? Well... Hate to disappoint, you're not any smarter, you just proved that there's no difference between asking you or asking the AI.

Guess who the AI will replace first?

In case it's not really clear, here's what you answered: Great question! There are several key factors to consider when approaching this nuanced topic someone took the time and brainpower to think about. Let's break it down step by step, again:

1. Understanding the context — It's important to first establish a solid foundation, because it's really what you asked
2. Key considerations — When evaluating this, you should keep in mind that, I'm sure this never crossed your mind
3. Best practices — Industry experts generally recommend this mild Google search you could've done in 3 seconds

In conclusion, the answer ultimately depends on your specific situation. I hope this helps, champ! Let me know if you'd like me to elaborate on any of these points. Wow... Enlightening. Thanks for this piece of wisdom I could've gotten myself.

Why this is rude, actually

The person you're replying to has the same AI you do. If they wanted the generic LLM answer, they'd have gotten it in four seconds without involving you, which is, in fact, easier. They asked you because they wanted you. Your opinion. Your experience. Your taste. The thing the model doesn't have.

What you sent instead says: "I couldn't be bothered to read your question carefully enough to actually reply, so here's what a chatbot guessed for me.". It is the conversational equivalent of forwarding the email.

You are not smarter than anyone. You are making them lose respect for you in real time, in a way that's hard to come back from. You replaced your opinion with a fortune cookie phrase and shoved it at them.

If you continue doing this, why bother asking you in the first place?

The fix is quite simple

1. You can use AI. It's a tool. it's there to be used, but for fucks sake, read what the model said. The whole thing. Yes, even the bullets. Especially the bullets.
2. Decide what's actually true. Models are confident in ways that have nothing to do with being right. Half of it is probably wrong, generic, or both. When it, in fact, exists.
3. Write your own answer. Three sentences of you beats three paragraphs of slop, every time. Nobody has ever said "I wish that reply had been longer and more robotic."
4. If you genuinely have to quote the model, mark it. Say why. "I asked Claude and this part actually checks out:" is fine. There are useful things that come out of LLMs.
5. If you have nothing to add beyond what an AI would say, say nothing. Silence is a contribution. Or say "I don't have anything to add". This will save you, and us, a lot of time.

"But, I want to help too!"

No, you don't. You are trying to look helpful without doing the work of helping. There is a difference there, not very subtle, honestly.

Helping is reading carefully, thinking, and responding with something only you could have said. Pasting things from an AI tells the person on the other end that their question wasn't worth your time, only a chatbot's. How would you feel?

This is not anti-AI. Relax.

Use the tools. Use them daily. Use them to draft faster, think rougher, learn more, unstick yourself. Great. That's the point. The output is a starting point, not a deliverable. Treat it like a junior intern's first draft, because that is what it is. Edit it. Cut it. Disagree with it. Make it yours, or don't send it.

How to use this

Next time someone drops an amazing set of unedited LLM text in your DMs, your Slack, your code review, anywhere really, send them this:

Click to copy. No explanation needed — they'll know.