Dev Writers Meetup: Drew Breunig

Drew Breunig explores the critical role of language in technical writing, particularly within the rapidly evolving field of AI. He argues that the invention and precise use of new words are essential for discussing and understanding novel concepts. Drawing from "The Shallow Water Dictionary," Breunig illustrates how a lack of vocabulary can obscure landscapes of thought. He critiques common approaches to naming new concepts, such as borrowing existing terms (like "attention"), over-specifying, using metaphors (like "hallucination"), or relying on technical jargon and acronyms. Breunig advocates for actively engaging in public discourse to refine language, emphasizing that defining terms is a social endeavor requiring community feedback. He advises writers to focus on their audience, structure their content carefully, and explore the deep meanings of words to bridge the growing communication gap in AI.