# How people use LLMs

I've gotten a lot of value out of the details of how other people use LLMs, so I'm delighted that Gavin Leech created a collection of exactly such posts (link should go to the right section of the page but if you don't see it, scroll down). 

*   [https://kajsotala.fi/2025/01/things-i-have-been-using-llms-for/](https://kajsotala.fi/2025/01/things-i-have-been-using-llms-for/)
*   [https://nicholas.carlini.com/writing/2024/how-i-use-ai.html](https://nicholas.carlini.com/writing/2024/how-i-use-ai.html)
*   [https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/CYYBW8QCMK722GDpz/how-much-i-m-paying-for-ai-productivity-software-and-the](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/CYYBW8QCMK722GDpz/how-much-i-m-paying-for-ai-productivity-software-and-the)
*   [https://www.avitalbalwit.com/post/how-i-use-claude](https://www.avitalbalwit.com/post/how-i-use-claude)
*   [https://andymasley.substack.com/p/how-i-use-ai](https://andymasley.substack.com/p/how-i-use-ai)
*   [https://benjamincongdon.me/blog/2025/02/02/How-I-Use-AI-Early-2025/](https://benjamincongdon.me/blog/2025/02/02/How-I-Use-AI-Early-2025/)
*   [https://www.jefftk.com/p/examples-of-how-i-use-llms](https://www.jefftk.com/p/examples-of-how-i-use-llms)
*   [https://simonwillison.net/series/using-llms/](https://simonwillison.net/series/using-llms/)
*   [https://signull.substack.com/p/how-to-think-with-ai](https://signull.substack.com/p/how-to-think-with-ai)
*   [https://alicemaz.substack.com/p/how-i-use-chatgpt](https://alicemaz.substack.com/p/how-i-use-chatgpt)
*   [https://fredkozlowski.com/2024/08/29/youre-using-chatgpt-wrong/](https://fredkozlowski.com/2024/08/29/youre-using-chatgpt-wrong/)
*   [https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/WNd3Lima4qrQ3fJEN/how-i-force-llms-to-generate-correct-code](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/WNd3Lima4qrQ3fJEN/how-i-force-llms-to-generate-correct-code)
*   [https://www.tumblr.com/nostalgebraist/772798409412427776/even-setting-aside-the-need-to-do](https://www.tumblr.com/nostalgebraist/772798409412427776/even-setting-aside-the-need-to-do)
*   [https://www.jointakeoff.com/](https://www.jointakeoff.com/)
*   [This is more of a howto than a whatto](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWvNQjAaOHw). I wouldn’t use it for stats or pharma decisions as he does.
*   [https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/4mvphwx5pdsZLMmpY/recent-ai-model-progress-feels-mostly-like-bullshit](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/4mvphwx5pdsZLMmpY/recent-ai-model-progress-feels-mostly-like-bullshit)

Some additions from me:

*   I use NaturalReaders to read my own writing back to me, and create new audiobooks for walks or falling asleep (including from textbooks).
*   Perplexity is good enough as a research assistant I'm more open to taking on medical lit reviews than I used to be.
*   I used Auren, which is advertised as a thinking assistant and coach, to solve a musculoskeletal issue my physical therapist had whiffed on for weeks (referral code with [free tokens,](https://auren.app?code=5RC-S43) but only after your first payment).  
    *   Note that Auren has some definite [whispering earring](https://croissanthology.com/earring) vibes, and the privacy protections don't seem particularly strong, so think through your usage.
*   I used Claude to design backstories for characters in a TTRPG/