Rich Hickey · 2026-10-12 · notable
Rich Hickey — 'AI' is not a tool, it is automation
Rich Hickey, the creator of Clojure, argues that LLMs are automation, not tools: you make a request and the system acts on its own, so you skip the work and the learning that comes with it.
The creator of Clojure says calling LLMs 'just tools' hides what they really are: automation.
What is it?
''AI' is Not a Tool' is a short essay Rich Hickey published on 12 October 2026, expanding a point he says he keeps making as a quip. Hickey defines a tool as something a person wields with intention, control and continuous feedback.
How does it work?
The argument rests on that definition. With an LLM you do not direct the action; in Hickey's words, 'you make requests and it acts on its own'. He compares it to a drive-thru that spares you from cooking, and says LLMs are 'automation with which you avoid writing code'.
Why does it matter?
Hickey's main worry is learning: if a model reads and summarises research papers for you, the machine did the reading and 'you miss learning how to think'. The essay reached the Hacker News front page and drew a same-day reply arguing the opposite, that AI is a tool and using it well takes skill.
Who is it for?
developers thinking about how they use coding agents