# AI Usage by Derek Sivers

> Source: <https://sive.rs/ai>
> Published: 2026-07-31 17:12:07+00:00

# AI usage

As of today, , here is how I use generative AI/LLM tools.

I use [OpenRouter.ai](https://openrouter.ai/) to direct my questions to any variety of LLMs.
Usually on the command line, using the [llm](https://llm.datasette.io/en/stable/) tool.

For programming, I ask it how to do things I don’t know how to do. Then I use what I’ve learned in my own code.

I **never** have it do the coding for me.

I **never** use AI to write as me.
**
No emails.
No sentences in my articles or books or even comments.
Nothing pretending to be me.
**

I enjoy the challenge of writing myself.
It’s organized thinking.
**
It’s the doing I want, not having it done.
**
See

[my article “It’s about being, not having”](/being)for more thoughts on this.

While I’m writing, I often ask it the kinds of things I would ask a friend sitting next to me. Like, “What are examples of different ways of seeing life that are impossible to prove or disprove?” Or, “What professions most use a physical toolbox?”

But again, the real point of this page is to let you know that **nothing claiming to be written by me is written by an AI**.

If this changes in the future, I’ll update this page at this permanent URL:
[sive.rs/ai](/ai)

This page is suggested by

[Damola, here](https://www.bydamo.la/p/ai-manifesto). (Check out his blog. He’s great.)