> `claude` can be considered a version of `rm` that can do what `rm` does (and other things - including things you don't want).
It can't, though.
Only when connected to a harness can Claude remove files from disk.
And, at that point, it's using existing libraries or tools to do it - `rm` if it uses bash, the `remove` stdio function if it uses C or a C-implemented programming language to write a custom tool for the job, or one of many other options.
It remains true, though, that Claude cannot itself remove files - just be your proxy to guess what files it's probable you were referring to, that you likely wanted to remove them, and then use another tool to actually do so.
As you note, it will be wrong about that sometimes, and it will likely be unpleasant if you haven't prepared for the eventuality.
> When people say "AI is just a tool", I think they mostly know what they mean and we all do, too.
When I hear that phrase, I think the speaker is either too naive to live, or is intentionally trying to sidestep anyone bringing up the manifold disaster-level issues with genAI systems.
It can't, though.
Only when connected to a harness can Claude remove files from disk.
And, at that point, it's using existing libraries or tools to do it - `rm` if it uses bash, the `remove` stdio function if it uses C or a C-implemented programming language to write a custom tool for the job, or one of many other options.
It remains true, though, that Claude cannot itself remove files - just be your proxy to guess what files it's probable you were referring to, that you likely wanted to remove them, and then use another tool to actually do so.
As you note, it will be wrong about that sometimes, and it will likely be unpleasant if you haven't prepared for the eventuality.
> When people say "AI is just a tool", I think they mostly know what they mean and we all do, too.
When I hear that phrase, I think the speaker is either too naive to live, or is intentionally trying to sidestep anyone bringing up the manifold disaster-level issues with genAI systems.