Three Ways People Work With AI

Imagine three different mindsets approaching the same challenge: creating a system for written communication.

The Classic Programmer begins at the foundation. He designs an alphabet, defines a set of words, establishes grammar, and gradually builds everything required to produce coherent text. His process is precise, linear, and entirely handcrafted. He might use AI to solve problems or review code.

The Prompt Engineer follows a similar path but delegates the work. He gives the AI clear, sequential instructions: “Create an alphabet. Build a vocabulary of a thousand words. Form sentences. Use these elements to develop a communication system.” The structure mirrors the programmer’s method, just executed through explicit direction.

The Advanced Vibe Coder approaches the problem from a different angle. He assumes the intelligence already exists within the system and focuses on drawing it out. Rather than prescribing steps, he asks a generative question: “What is the most effective way for us to communicate in writing?” His aim is not task execution but shared exploration.

The essential difference

The first two perspectives treat AI as a tool that carries out instructions.
The third treats AI as a thinking partner, capable of helping uncover new possibilities instead of merely assembling predefined components.