Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to share findings from empirically driven conceptual research into the implications for English teachers of understanding generative AI as a "tool" for writing. Design/methodology/approach: The paper reports early findings from an Australian National Survey of English teachers and interrogates the notion of the AI writer as "tool" through intersectional feminist discursive-material analysis of the metaphorical entailments of the term. Findings: Through this work, the authors have developed the concept of "coloniser tool-thinking" and juxtaposed it with First Nations and feminist understandings of "tools" and "objects" to demonstrate risks to the pursuit of social and planetary justice through understanding generative AI as a tool for English teachers and students. Originality/value: Bringing together white and First Nations English researchers in dialogue, the paper contributes a unique perspective to challenge widespread and common-sense use of "tool" for generative AI services.