Notes on tools worth trusting.
We test AI tools, shopping assistants, and calculators the same way we hold ourselves to standard — pros and cons, no affiliate steering baked into the verdict. A handful of posts, written when there's something worth saying.
About This Blog
Not a developer, not an engineer — just someone who got curious about what AI can actually do. Here's why this blog exists, who it's for, and exactly how AI is (and isn't) used to write it.
Why Working With AI Is Like Working With Kids
AI behaves a lot more like a very capable kid than a computer — it doesn't know what you haven't told it, takes you literally, and learns faster from an example than an explanation. Here's how to use that.
AI: Enemy or Friend?
People keep asking what I actually think about AI. The honest answer is that "enemy or friend" is the wrong question — it's closer to electricity than to a colleague.
What These “Make Money With AI” Videos Don't Tell You — Part 2: Platform Models
Part 1 covered the content models where the hidden problem was findability. Part 2 covers YouTube, Etsy, and app stores — a different risk: building your income on land you don't own.
What These “Make Money With AI” Videos Don't Tell You — Part 1: Content Models
Most of what these “I made $10k with AI” videos say is technically true — that's what makes them frustrating. Part 1 covers the content-driven models: Amazon KDP, affiliate sites, and AdSense sites.
Different Types of AI — and What Isn't AI, and Why That Doesn't Always Matter
“AI” gets used for a chatbot, a sci-fi robot, and a video game villain in the same breath. Here's what actually separates the different types of AI — including the one entry on this list that isn't AI at all.
The Different Stages of AI Usage
Some people don't use AI at all, some use it daily, and a few seem to bend it entirely to their will. Here's a four-stage way of seeing where you sit — and what's possible if you ever want to push further.
What to Watch Out for in AI-Assisted Shopping Tools
AI “pick this for you” tools are everywhere now — gift finders, shopping assistants, comparison bots. Here are three patterns worth checking before you trust one with a decision.