Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Some AI tools increase productivity in some areas. Okay, I’m done with this task. Now what? That choice can be vexing.

I used an AI tool (won’t mention which one). I completed a two-day task in an hour. Now what? Hey boss, tell me what to do now.

One answer: go to step two, step three, etc. and let’s finish the whole thing before lunch today. Then we’ll move on to another thing.

Another answer: Wow. Only an hour. Let’s do this over again with a slight variation. If it only takes an hour, we can run this a dozen times with a dozen slight deviations to fill the two days we allocated to this task.

Both answers, I am sure there are more answers, are pretty good. Which one do we use? More than anything, this resolves with temperament. Huh? What about dollars and cents? Nope. Temperament or personality. Does the manager like to ponder one more possibility? Does the manager like to move on? Are we in analysis paralysis or going full speed regardless of the hole in the ground in front of us?

Alas, new tools bring these questions. This is not a new situation. These answers are not new. It is unfortunate, that these questions are new to the people now using today’s new tools. Proceed with caution and have some sympathy for the other person.