This content originally appeared on Go Make Things and was authored by Go Make Things
I’ve been hearing from more and more friends who are having AI forced upon them and rammed down their throats at work.
- Goals and bonuses tied to using AI at work
- AI working groups
- 1x1 meetings where “how are you using AI in your work right now” is the main talking point
- Getting “voluntold” to teach coworkers about something cool you can do with AI
- Senior developers telling junior devs to “ask AI” instead of actually mentoring them
Lets not mince words: this is cult shit.
If AI was as good as some people think it is, you wouldn’t have to force it on your employees. If a developer gets their work done, and does it well, why on earth does it matter if they use AI or not?
Today, I want talk briefly about what you can do if you find yourself in this situation. Let’s dig in!
Facts and logic (jk!)
This is unlikely to have any impact at all, but if you’re risk averse, it’s maybe a good place to start… if for no other reason than that it gets you doing something, even if that something is shouting into the wind.
You could try sharing data with the powers that be about how AI tools…
- Piss off customers
- Erode brand trust
- Destroy the environment (useful if your company has a green goal or target)
- Exploit workers in other countries (again, if your company has any sort of ethics mandate)
- Usually fail
- Are wrong more than they’re right
- Can’t even do basic math
The reality is, though, that company mandates are like the Juggernaut from X-Men.
Once someone in the C-suite issues a mandate, and then ties a goal to it, it’s not going away. Even if they recognize they’ve fucked up, they have too much money to lose by reversing course.
And “adoption” by employees is the easiest way to hit that bonus target, even if adoption makes everyone less effective.
So, try this one if you want, but… don’t expect much!
Malicious compliance
I talked about this in relation to fascism last week, but it’s useful for stuff like AI, too.
If you’re highly productive without AI, using AI can both slowdown your output and produce worse results.
You could do exactly as your asked, and watch your performance tank. When asked, you can then point out that you’re being forced to use tools that negatively impact your effectiveness.
Or, use AI to do code reviews, and watch it generate mountains of nonsense bugs and suggestions against working code that then needs to be reviewed and assessed.
Two words of caution with this approach:
- You have be comfortable contributing to environmental and social destruction by actually using AI tools.
- It’s just as likely (maybe even more likely) that you get punished for underperforming than that someone admits you’re personally better off not using these tools.
Ask forgiveness, not permission
You could just… not?
Told you have to use AI? Don’t. Keep writing your code the old-fashioned way. Do good work. Get your shit done.
If you’re already performing well at work, what are they going to say?
Them: You’re not using AI.
You: No. Is there a problem with my performance?
Them: No, but we want everyone to use AI.
You: I’m meeting/exceeding my performance expectations already without it. If that stops being true, please let me know!
Make them own the absurdity of it all.
Standard caveat here that I am dripping with privilege, have a social safety net, and have a times pissed off senior leadership by being very direct and not playing corporate games.
Additional caveat that this could very well get you fired, depending on how much social currency you have built up at work and how good you are at your job.
There are no good answers
Just options, and they all suck.
If it were me, I’d be choosing “ask forgiveness, not permission” a majority of the time. But absolutely no shade if that doesn’t work for you. Its rough out there! Stay safe!
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This content originally appeared on Go Make Things and was authored by Go Make Things
Go Make Things | Sciencx (2025-10-14T14:30:00+00:00) The AI Mandate. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/10/14/the-ai-mandate/
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