Built an notebook with an AI assistant that pushes back
- Published
- 09/03, 21:31
- First discovered
- 09/04, 15:00
- Type
- Dev community · RSS
A developer created an AI assistant notebook designed to encourage critical thinking rather than passive consumption. The developer notes that standard chat UX often leads users into a consumption mode, fostering dependence on the AI. This new prototype aims to counteract that feedback loop by having the AI "push back." A lightweight, no sign-up prototype is available for testing the workflow.
A sample brainstorm notes
A lot of conversational LLMs suffer from chronic sycophancy. Even when specifically prompted to critique or play devil's advocate, models naturally drift toward agreement, validating weak arguments, and adopting the user's premise within a few turns.
Beyond prompting, standard chat UX actively encourages this problem. When an AI generates paragraphs in a conversational back-and-forth, the user naturally shifts into consumption mode rather than critical thinking mode. This in a way becomes a feedback loop where the user becomes dependent on the AI.
I built this as a dedicated notebook instead. Rather than a chat interface that dumps walls of text and takes over the writing, you draft your thoughts in blocks while a side assistant helps you guide your logic and actually pushes back. The goal here is to encourage independent thinking with AI assistance
Threw together a lightweight, no sign-up prototype if you want to test the workflow: https://paper-dusky-five.vercel.app/