Generative AI Vegetarianism
The author identifies as a 'generative AI vegetarian,' choosing to avoid using generative AI tools in daily life despite their growing prevalence. They explain that while they don't oppose others using AI, they personally prefer creating content and solving problems without relying on systems trained on vast amounts of internet data. The piece outlines their reasons for limiting AI use and distinguishes between generative AI and other algorithmic technologies they still accept.
- ▪Generative AI tools create text, images, or media based on user input and massive datasets drawn from the internet.
- ▪The author avoids generative AI by disabling features like Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Apple Intelligence in their devices.
- ▪They refrain from using built-in AI features they cannot disable and avoid consuming or sharing content made with generative AI.
- ▪Generative AI vegetarianism involves choosing software and supporting creators that avoid using generative AI tools.
- ▪The author distinguishes generative AI from other algorithmic systems like spellcheck, recommendation engines, and computer vision, which they still use.
- ▪The term 'generative AI vegetarian' reflects a personal choice to limit AI use without condemning others who adopt it.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Generative AI vegetarianismMarch 11, 2026 Version historyExtra-prominent disclaimer: The views expressed here are my own, and don’t represent the opinions of my current or previous employers.For some spicier takes! Anthony Moser’s “I Am An AI Hater”, Jenny Zhang’s “choosing friction”, Rusty Foster’s “A.I. Isn’t People”, or Ed Zitron’s “The Case Against Generative AI” if you have most of an afternoon to read it. Emily Bender and Alex Hanna’s podcast interview with Paris Marx is also excellent.Hello, it’s me: I’m a generative AI vegetarian.The tech industry is convinced this is the future; every app on my phone and most of the apps on my computer want me to use their new AI features.I don’t want any of them. I want to write my own emails. I want to write my own (mediocre) software code.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Sboots.
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