Thinking about AI and Tai Qi.

Before LLMs, writing software felt like tinkering on a machine.

It also felt like fixing a machine. Recently I repaired my AC unit by replacing a large capacitor and replacing a fuse. At no point would the air start cooling until both of those were done correctly.

One wrong move can ‘blunder’ - cargo build fails on a wrong type, loading a python file causes a circular import, these were all things I needed to worry about each time.

If one one wire was missing, or the wrong fuse was inserted, the entire thing would not work.

Even code compiles and gets deployed, I feel like I am one wrong version, one port open, or one buffer overflow from being attacked.

Now, it’s more like shifting energy. I can have it architect code how I want it to, independently, then do a comprehensive audit of my dependencies, code, infrastructure, and practices to determine reliability and security.

All the knowledge I’ve gained in the past are being moved like energy. The Qi is there, it just needs to be channeled correctly.

My 80-year-old stepfather has been doing Tai Ji for years, and his favorite part about it is being able to see where his body is at each day. The movements act like a body scan, and as he moves his joints and shifts his weights.

The LLM gives advise as I develop, even without asking for its advice. It edits a file, and warns me about a bug in a completely separate function. I direct its energy.

In Tai Ji, when moving from one position to another, if you step too far and fail to adjust your foot, your next moves may be precarious. You may be able to complete some movements, but then a few moves later you are not in a good stance and may fall over. The first thing taught about movements is how the weight is balanced, and how it moves.

I’ve encountered this personally, where you follow a few LLM suggestions and you ride that fast train a few too many stops and then you have no idea where you are. The codebase is messy and optimized towards something you don’t care about, and it’s hard to understand.

But if you put in the practice, understand the martial purpose of these moves, it makes it come together in practice in a way that is only accomplished with the synthesis of knowledge and practice.