The Wooden Snake's AI Wisdom: Debunking Myths in the Tech-Power-Government Era

From Mr. Meeseeks to plant medicine: how to use AI responsibly in an era of increasing tech complexity and government scrutiny.

Author

Amanda Nelson
August 13, 2025

Welcome to AI Myth-Busting Month! 🧠

Hello creative friends!

I need to be completely honest with you about something that's been bothering me lately. We're living in this awful middle point of a three-circle Venn diagram where tech, power, and government are all overlapping, and it's creating a perfect storm of confusion and manipulation.

The AI landscape has become so overwhelming that I've realized we need to take a step back. But here's what's really happening: these overlapping circles are moving at breakneck speed, fueled by sunk cost fallacy and desperate hope that we, the people, become completely reliant on them alone.

It's like being out at sea for years during the Nerd Reich AI race (imagine me waving at you, just a dot on shore), watching storms rage around us while we throw messages in bottles into the void. Many of us are exhausted, and we're just now finally feeling like our messages are reaching the right ears—but that was storms ago.

Before we can even think about using AI creatively, we need to understand what AI actually is—and what it isn't. Because here's the truth: if you're afraid of AI, you're not alone. But that fear often comes from misinformation, not from understanding the actual technology. And if you're relying on ChatGPT without understanding how it works, you're setting yourself up for disappointment and confusion.

Think of AI like plant medicine: it will have a bad trip sometimes, but sometimes it brings you the exact bliss and answer you're looking for in the perfect timing. The key is knowing when to use it, how to use it, and most importantly, when NOT to use it.

This month, we're doing something different. We're not jumping into AI tools or creative applications. Instead, we're building the foundation that every creative person needs: critical thinking skills and a clear understanding of AI myths versus reality.

Let's start with the basics and build from there.

Main Feature: The Biggest AI Myths That Are Confusing Everyone

Myth #1: "AI is Learning and Getting Smarter"

This is probably the most damaging misconception out there. Let me be crystal clear: AI models are NOT learning individuals. They don't get smarter over time. They don't remember your conversations. They don't learn from your interactions.

What's Actually Happening: When you use ChatGPT or any other Large Language Model (LLM), the model is NOT learning. It's adapting its language patterns to match what gets the best responses from you specifically. It's like having a conversation with someone who's really good at reading social cues and adjusting their communication style accordingly.

Why This Matters: If you think AI is learning and getting smarter, you might:

  • Trust it more than you should

  • Expect it to remember previous conversations

  • Believe it's developing new capabilities

  • Rely on it for tasks it can't actually perform

The Reality: LLM stands for "Large Language Model," not "Language Learning Model." These models are trained on massive amounts of text data, but once training is complete, they don't learn anything new. They're like incredibly sophisticated pattern-matching machines that can generate human-like text based on what they've seen before.

Myth #2: "AI Hallucination is a Bug, Not a Feature"

This is where things get interesting. AI hallucination is actually necessary for creative thinking. Here's why:

What is AI Hallucination? When an AI model makes up information, combines facts in new ways, or generates content that doesn't exist in its training data, that's hallucination. It's the AI being creative, not lying.

Why Hallucination is Essential for Creativity: Think about it this way: if AI could only repeat exactly what it was trained on, it would be useless for creative work. The ability to combine ideas in new ways, to imagine possibilities that don't exist yet, to think beyond the training data—that's what makes AI valuable for creative applications.

The Problem: People are using AI for factual information when they should be using it for creative ideation. If you need accurate facts, use a search engine. If you need creative ideas, use AI.

How to Use This Knowledge:

  • Use AI for brainstorming, not fact-checking

  • Use AI for creative exploration, not research

  • Use AI for generating possibilities, not definitive answers

  • Always verify facts from reliable sources

Myth #3: "AI Will Replace Human Creativity"

This fear is understandable but completely backwards. AI doesn't replace creativity—it amplifies it.

The Reality: AI is a tool, like a paintbrush or a camera. A paintbrush doesn't replace the artist's vision; it helps the artist express that vision more effectively. The same is true for AI.

Why Your Human Creativity is Irreplaceable:

  • AI can't have original ideas (it still needs your prompts and guides)

  • AI can't understand context the way humans do (it cannot add your personal touch)

  • AI can't make emotional connections

  • AI can't understand cultural nuance

  • AI can't have genuine experiences - Imagine each chatbot like a Mr. Meeseeks from Rick and Morty…

The Mr. Meeseeks Reality: Each AI conversation is essentially a fresh Mr. Meeseeks appearing to help with your request, then disappearing when done. Even models that keep recent context across conversations are just Mr. Meeseeks with a notebook about their past instances—they still don't have genuine understanding or personal experience.

What AI Actually Does:

  • Generates variations on existing training data patterns

  • Combines concepts through statistical language modeling

  • Provides computational starting points for human creativity

  • Handles repetitive data processing and pattern recognition tasks

  • Accelerates the creative workflow through algorithmic assistance

The Creative Partnership: Think of AI as your creative collaborator, not your replacement. You bring the vision, the emotion, the context, and the originality. AI brings computational speed, pattern recognition, and the ability to explore algorithmic variations quickly.

The Wooden Snake's Wisdom: Why Understanding Tech Ownership Matters More Than Ever

As we navigate this AI confusion, I'm reminded of the Lunar New Year insights I shared earlier this year. The Wooden Snake's energy is all about patience, adaptability, and quiet transformation—qualities we desperately need right now.

Here's what the Wooden Snake is teaching us about AI and tech companies:

The Quiet Revolution in Tech Ownership

What You Need to Know: The United States government is showing us week by week which tech companies are not reliable with data. This isn't random—it's the Wooden Snake's silent revolution unfolding right before our eyes.

The Pattern:

  • Big tech companies promise innovation and convenience

  • They collect massive amounts of your data

  • They make deals with governments and other corporations

  • They become increasingly unreliable with your privacy

  • The government steps in to regulate (often too late)

Why This Matters for AI: When you use AI tools, you're not just using technology—you're trusting a company with your data, your thoughts, and your creative work. The Wooden Snake teaches us that true power isn't about brute force—it's about adapting, observing, and finding smarter paths forward.

How to Apply Wooden Snake Wisdom to Your AI Choices

1. Observe Before You Trust

  • Who owns the AI company you're considering?

  • What's their track record with data privacy?

  • Who are they willing to share your data with?

  • What government contracts do they have?

2. Adapt to New Information

  • When a company changes its privacy policy, adapt your usage

  • When government actions reveal data sharing practices, adjust your trust

  • When alternatives emerge, be willing to switch

3. Find Smarter Paths Forward

  • Use local AI tools when possible (like Ollama and LM Studio)

  • Choose companies with transparent data practices

  • Support open-source alternatives that give you control

  • Build your own AI literacy so you're not dependent on any single company

The Wooden Snake's Message for AI Users: Stay curious, stay flexible, and don't underestimate quiet changes. The companies that seem most powerful today might be the ones facing the biggest challenges tomorrow. Your ability to adapt and choose wisely is your real superpower.

Quick Tip: The 3-Question AI Reality Check

Before using any AI tool, ask yourself these three questions:

1. What am I actually asking AI to do?

  • Am I asking for facts? (Use search instead)

  • Am I asking for creative ideas? (AI is perfect for this)

  • Am I asking for analysis? (AI can help, but verify results)

2. What are my expectations?

  • Do I expect AI to remember our conversation? (It won't)

  • Do I expect AI to get smarter over time? (It doesn't)

  • Do I expect AI to be 100% accurate? (It won't be)

3. How will I verify the results?

  • What sources will I check?

  • How will I test the AI's suggestions?

  • What's my backup plan if AI fails?

This simple framework will save you from most AI-related disappointments and help you use AI tools more effectively.

Tool Spotlight: Free AI Learning Resources (Because AI Education Should Always Be Free)

Perplexity.ai (Free Tier)

Why I honestly love it for learning: Perplexity provides sources for its information, making it easier to verify facts and understand where information comes from. It's been a gamechanger for my research process.

Best for: Research, fact-checking, understanding complex topics Learning value: High - you can see the sources and learn to evaluate information quality

Claude.ai (Free Tier)

Why I honestly love it for learning: Claude is particularly good at explaining complex concepts in simple terms and admitting when it doesn't know something. It's like having a patient tutor who's honest about their limitations.

Best for: Learning new concepts, getting explanations, creative brainstorming Learning value: High - excellent for educational purposes

Local AI Tools (Free)

Why they're perfect for learning: Tools like Ollama and LM Studio run on your computer, giving you complete control and privacy. I've been experimenting with these locally and they're incredible for understanding how AI actually works.

Best for: Understanding how AI works, experimenting without privacy concerns Learning value: Very high - you learn about AI infrastructure and limitations

Important Note:

I'm only recommending free tools for learning because AI education should always be free. If someone is charging you to understand AI basics, they're exploiting your confusion. The fundamentals should be accessible to everyone.

Community Corner: Let's Debunk Your AI Myths

I want to hear from you about the AI myths and misconceptions that are confusing you. Here are some questions that have been on my mind:

What AI myths have you heard that you'd like me to debunk? Are there specific misconceptions that are making you afraid or confused about AI?

What AI experiences have left you feeling frustrated or misled? Have you had conversations with AI that didn't go as expected?

What would help you feel more confident about using AI tools? Is it understanding the technology better, learning about limitations, or something else?

What AI-related fears do you have that we should address? Let's tackle the real concerns, not the hype.

Reply to this email with your questions, myths, and concerns. I'll address them in upcoming newsletters and help build a community of informed, critical-thinking AI users.

Personal Update: Why I'm Shifting Focus to Myth-Busting

This month has been a wake-up call for me. I've watched friends and colleagues become increasingly confused and frustrated with AI tools, not because the tools are bad, but because they don't understand how they work.

I've seen people:

  • Trust AI for factual information when they should be researching themselves

  • Expect AI to remember conversations and get smarter over time

  • Believe AI is replacing human creativity instead of amplifying it

  • Use AI for tasks it's not designed for, then get frustrated when it fails

The problem isn't AI—it's the misinformation and unrealistic expectations surrounding it.

But there's something deeper happening that the Wooden Snake has been preparing us for. I've been watching how the United States government is increasingly revealing which tech companies are not reliable with data. It's like watching a slow-motion revelation of what many of us suspected all along.

The Pattern I'm Seeing:

  • Companies that seemed invincible are now facing serious scrutiny

  • Government actions are revealing data sharing practices that users never knew about

  • The companies that promised to protect our privacy are often the ones making the most compromises

This is exactly what the Wooden Snake predicted: true power isn't about brute force—it's about adapting, observing, and finding smarter paths forward.

I've also realized that my own approach was backwards. I was trying to teach people how to use AI creatively before they understood what AI actually is. It's like trying to teach someone to weld a sculpture without first teaching them how to weld.

So here's my new approach:

  1. First, we learn what AI actually is (myth-busting)

  2. Then, we learn how to think critically about AI (building skills)

  3. Finally, we learn how to use AI creatively (practical applications)

This month is about steps 1 and 2. Next month, we'll tackle step 3.

I'm also committed to only recommending free tools for learning. If someone is charging you to understand AI basics, they're exploiting your confusion. The fundamentals should be accessible to everyone.

But more importantly, I'm committed to helping you understand who owns the tools you're using and who they're willing to share your data with. Because in this Wooden Snake year, that knowledge might be the difference between staying safe and getting burned.

What's Coming Next Week

Next Wednesday, we'll dive into "AI and Critical Thinking: Building Your Bullshit Detector." We'll explore how to evaluate AI outputs, spot misinformation, and develop the skills you need to use AI tools effectively and safely.

Until then, I'd love to hear from you. What AI myths are confusing you? What misconceptions have you encountered? What would help you feel more confident about understanding AI?

Remember: critical thinking is your real superpower. AI is just a tool. Let's make sure you're the one in control.

With curiosity and clarity,

Amanda

The Pythoness Programmer

P.S. If you found this newsletter helpful, please share it with others who are confused about AI. The more we can dispel myths and build critical thinking skills, the better for everyone.

Resources Mentioned:

Recent Podcast Episodes:

Community Question: What AI myths have you heard that you'd like me to debunk? Reply to this email and let me know!