I read that the University of Sidney is moving to a “dual lane” approach where some assignments are meant to be done using AI tools, and others are done is strictly controlled conditions where AI usage is forbidden – this would be a way for students to both practice for themselves, yet also become fluent in AI tooling usage.
Maybe a similar approach could work in software companies: mandate that a certain share of tasks be done without AI tools. For example the company could have a control where company-funded AI usage is available from Monday to Wednesday, and shut off Thursday and Friday. Would such a hybrid approach avoid some of the downsides? Of course this relies on companies being willing to accept a short-term productivity hit (assuming that AI-assisted days are indeed noticeably more productive), for the benefit of long-term skills and work dynamics. I don’t expect most companies to be able to make this choice…
Tuesday and Thursday are «autopilot» days, you can queue background agentic work for these days in advance with specified maximum token budgets, but you are not allowed to look at the results or course-correct during the auto-pilot day. This is how the company stays sharp and ready for long-horizon agentic future!
Any benefits from people actually working on the code on Tuesdays and Thursdays are purely accidental.
I read that the University of Sidney is moving to a “dual lane” approach where some assignments are meant to be done using AI tools, and others are done is strictly controlled conditions where AI usage is forbidden – this would be a way for students to both practice for themselves, yet also become fluent in AI tooling usage.
Maybe a similar approach could work in software companies: mandate that a certain share of tasks be done without AI tools. For example the company could have a control where company-funded AI usage is available from Monday to Wednesday, and shut off Thursday and Friday. Would such a hybrid approach avoid some of the downsides? Of course this relies on companies being willing to accept a short-term productivity hit (assuming that AI-assisted days are indeed noticeably more productive), for the benefit of long-term skills and work dynamics. I don’t expect most companies to be able to make this choice…
score 1 · canonical
Tuesday and Thursday are «autopilot» days, you can queue background agentic work for these days in advance with specified maximum token budgets, but you are not allowed to look at the results or course-correct during the auto-pilot day. This is how the company stays sharp and ready for long-horizon agentic future!
Any benefits from people actually working on the code on Tuesdays and Thursdays are purely accidental.
score 1 · canonical