tl;dr: Responding to Rich Hickey's claim that LLMs are automation rather than tools, the author argues the distinction is false: tools can incorporate automation (compilers, spreadsheets) and still require skilled wielding. LLMs demand intention, feedback, and expertise to use well—a programmer can question outputs, test suggestions, and refine prompts in a human-directed loop. The real distinction isn't tool vs. automation, but skilled wielding vs. uncritical delegation, and anthropomorphic industry language ("go rogue," "conspire") muddies legitimate engineering concerns.