Every post here on rafeblandford.com carries a small label saying how it was made: written by me, written with AI, or AI-authored. You can see it next to the tag labels at the top of every post and on the cards on the index pages. This, or something like it, is a pattern I expect to become much more widespread across content, not just code, in the next few years.
The pragmatic classification test is simple: would this post still exist, recognisably in this form, without the AI?
Written by Rafe (Human-first)
Yes - basically unchanged. The thinking, the opinions and the words are mine. AI did mechanical things at most: a spellcheck, a “is this clear?”, or faster searching for references. The key principle: no generated prose or arguments.
Written with AI (Collaboration)
Yes - but slower or worse. The ideas, opinions, and direction are mine; AI materially shaped the words or the structure. The thinking is mine, the execution shared. In practise, for most posts in this category, there are sections that are human-written, and others that are human-reviewed.
AI-authored (AI-first)
No - it wouldn't exist. The bulk of the prose came from AI, working from my brief. I'm the editor and commissioner, not the author in the traditional sense. Most frequently, these are to document a project or a topic I've been working that I think is worthwhile sharing because others might be interested in it. Typically, these are born from things I've supplied significant context for, be it a working project, notes, or other input, so the human touch is present, it's just not primary.
Because being transparent about how AI is used is the honest thing to do... and, increasingly, the authentic one. I work this way every day; showing it openly demonstrates the operating model rather than just describing it. The label is what makes AI-authored writing publishable here, not a constant "is this OK" and "what will people think" set of decision.
Humans, Centaurs, and Cyborgs
This pushes on the different ways of working with AI. I've found it's useful to abstract into three broad categories: human, centaur, and cyborg. I've found it helps with thinking and explaining to others... but I would acknowledge that it's more like different modes along a continuous continuum - another example of adventures along the jagged frontier of AI.
New writing by email
Occasional pieces on product, technology and AI — and how they actually play out in practice.
