Power Tools

There’s nothing quite like using a table saw to make you feel alive. Years ago, I acquired one when I helped a friend downsize in preparation for moving overseas. That saw was a beast—solid metal stand, powered by a spinning belt nearly as frightening as the single, naked blade that jutted from the table’s center. I used it a few times, glorying in the roar of the motor and whine of the blade as it made precision cuts through wood. Then a VP at the bank in town sliced off parts of three fingers while working on a home improvement project in his garage. After that, I got skittish. I used mine a few more times and then dragged it the curb during my last spring cleaning.

Which brings us to the topic of artificial intelligence. Part of my day job is assisting educators in their pedagogy, and, for the past few years, that’s included how to incorporate the proliferation of AI generators into their teaching and daily work. For most educators (me included), these are tools we never asked for, tools we never wanted, and tools we’re not really certain how to use well. AI generators are fast, powerful, amazing, and terrifying. They’re also pretty freaking cool. The question for those of us who make our living creating and teaching content is: if artificial intelligence can do it faster and, increasingly, more accurate than humans, then what’s to become of me? It’s a good question, an important question, and one I hope those who are creating these powerful tools are asking themselves on a daily basis. If we’re not careful, reckless use of artificial intelligence generators will result in more than the loss of three fingertips. I don’t have much advice in this area other than: ignore the tools at your own peril, learn how to use them ethically, and practice safe operating techniques.

Which brings us back to power tools, like table saws. I recently started building a rather large structure in my backyard, and with every weekend that passed, it became increasingly obvious that a table saw would come in handy. I was delighted to discover that modern table saws, with lots of safety features, at a reasonable cost, are now available. So, a few weeks ago, I bought one, read the safety manual, and set to cutting precision strips of cedar pickets to use as trim. The work is deeply satisfying. It’s also an antidote to the astonishing amount of time I spend indoors, typing away on projects, using programs and software, the internal workings of which I have little to no understanding.

The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the ethereal work in your life, find a task that requires a spinning blade and a piece of wood. Build something that requires the use of hammer and nails. Make some noise. Just watch your fingers.

Note: Other than spellcheck, no artificial intelligence was used in the writing of this post.