Discussion
@mamund
Nice essay! I’ve been experimenting with Claude Sonnet 4.5’s extended thinking and web search as a research tool.
I see the high end #LLM experience like working with a good horse—exceptionally skilled in horsey things, moving fast, etc.—a tool that’s exceptionally easy to use to augment your own abilities, not an #AI.
Simile warning: I rode a horse—only when I was led around on one in grade school. But I’m a horse fan from Hopalong Cassidy through today.
i htink your analogy about riding a horse that helps you go farther/faster is a good one.
Ben Shniderman's book "Human-Centered AI" puts forward a similar premise: that AI helps us create "supertools" that amplify and extend our skills and knowledge.
Yes! I prompt #Claude with vague hints or memories—anything to add context to a request, or guide it. A very ‘horsey’ feel.
Its Memory plus #LLM context handles anaphoric references really well: I added my IPhone’s model number, phone number, and current iOS release to Memory. Now I can say ‘my iPhone’, and Claude will use relevant details in a question about a tricky feature, or symptom of a bug.
Casual or sloppy questions often get precise first answers—with clickable sources.
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