← Thinking with Machines · Lesson 4 of 4

Know when not to ask

Some things are worth doing yourself because the doing is the point: a letter of thanks, a hard decision about family, the first draft of something you are trying to learn.

If you hand over the part where you think, you get the result without the learning. That is fine for a form you will never fill in again. It is a loss for a skill you want to keep.

A useful question before you ask: do I want the answer, or do I want to be able to get the answer?

One question

You are learning to write clearer reports at work. Which use of a tool keeps the skill?

Say it backSay it back: name one thing you would rather keep doing yourself, and why.

A lesson is kept once you've answered the question and written at least 8 words. Nobody grades it; it stays on this device.