One Month Without AI

Several months ago, the author of a free and open-source software project called LibreWeddingPlanner decided to ban AI contributions. They did this to avoid potential drama and take a firm stance against AI. However, the author continued using AI in their work environment, where it was commonplace among colleagues and fellow developers. Despite the benefits of AI in speeding up tasks and generating code, the author began to feel that their productivity had diminished due to over-reliance on AI.

Inspired by a friend's enthusiasm, the author started using enhanced autocomplete and other code generation models. They soon found themselves unable to stop using AI, as it promised significant productivity gains. The author drew a parallel between AI use and drug addiction, warning that the use of AI coding agents could be similarly addictive.

Over time, the author observed that AI agents were taking over tasks that previously required their own attention and effort. They noted that their focus shifted from writing code to reviewing code generated by AI, leading to exhaustion and frustration. The author admitted that most code generated by AI was not up to their standards, and they struggled to understand the logic behind the changes made by the AI.

Eventually, the author realized that they had not written a single line of code themselves in several months. They had become heavily dependent on AI agents to generate code and commit changes. The author concluded that while AI can be a useful tool, it can also lead to a loss of control over one's work and a decrease in productivity.