Got my performance review today.

[brainwise@mas.to]

@fn0rd But ... that's not a negative!

[fn0rd@mastodon.social]

@the_roamer Thank you for the kind words. And indeed, one should focus on the positives. But it's difficult to not get frustrated as the very definition of what it means to be a good leader changes from under me, and for the worst.

[fn0rd@mastodon.social]

@paul The thing is Silicon Valley folks, and those who try to emulate them, are nothing if not trend chasers, and... https://www.businessinsider.com/jensen-huang-500k-engineers-250k-ai-tokens-nvidia-compute-2026-3?op=1

(you and I know *why* he's saying this, our bosses sadly only try to cargo-cult his behavior).

In other words, to talk about cost marks one as an unbeliever. And you know what cults do to unbelievers.

[fn0rd@mastodon.social]

@Nead . It's not about excelling, it's about excelling at what's *important*.

[fn0rd@mastodon.social]

@mason Sure feels like it. I wonder if there's any company anywhere that's not drinking this cool-aid.

[fn0rd@mastodon.social]

@darwinwoodka You and me both. But the people paying my salary beg to differ and, well, they're the ones paying my salary.

[fn0rd@mastodon.social]

@brainwise It is for the people signing the paychecks, unfortunately.

[brainwise@mas.to]

@fn0rd Ugh.

[demoographics@wikis.world]

@fn0rd we've an Engineering Manager role open (amongst others): https://wikimediafoundation.org/jobs/#section-8

[sanityinc@hachyderm.io]

@fn0rd I hope you find an employer who recognises your awesomeness, and understands what we're all supposed to be doing here.

[purpleidea@mastodon.social]

@fn0rd What's the number of people?

[fn0rd@mastodon.social]

@demoographics Thank you so much! I will apply ASAP!

[ganxel@oldbytes.space]

@fn0rd I was interviewing for Hubspot recently, and spent about 30 mins chatting with the recruiter before she said "ok so there's a code test, then systems design test, then another code test, then of course the AI fluency test, then a hiring manager call..."
I satd "sorry, what's an AI fluency test?"
"Oh, well just a standard test because you need to use AI for everyday coding"
"Aha... do you mean, it's available as a tool for engineers when they see fit, or like they MUST use it X number of times per day?"
"Yes."
"...?"

[fn0rd@mastodon.social]

@sanityinc Truly appreciate the kind words!

[tseitr@mastodon.sdf.org]

@fn0rd

MHS == My hierarchical superior

MHS : are you still resisting?

Me : eerr, yes, no use for it, it is just giving the most likely answer, not the correct one...

MHS: your views are absolutely not alligned with the company

MHS : we do no forcing but *proceed to talk 30 mins about AI*

[sabik@rants.au]

@fn0rd
Use AI to generate enthusiastic (fictional) reports about how you and your team use AI?

#GenAI #LLM

[julesbl@mastodon.me.uk]

@fn0rd I know someone who works for a firm who is shoving AI down everyone's throat, he is superb at his job, does not need the ai, but he has to blow a load of coins each month or they will fire him
It is so fustrating hearing things like this

[ilookloud@retro.pizza]

@fn0rd the part about lowering your grade for not being enthusiastic about AI comes from your team or from somewhere else?

[pat@hachyderm.io]

@fn0rd on the off chance you're in Australia or New Zealand (though not South Australia), this role is with a lot of excellent humans, many of whom don't use AI much at all. https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/assemblyfour/engineering-manager-remote-work-from-home?keywords=Assembly%20Four

[diazona@techhub.social]

@fn0rd @mason Yeah there are some. It's just that you don't hear about them as much because the "tech evangelists" who amplify voices get more attention when they talk about being all-in on AI.

I suppose I should say, it depends on what exactly you mean by drinking the Kool-Ade. If it means forcing employees to use AI tools whether or not it makes sense, then I'm sure there are a lot of companies not doing that (e.g. I work for one), whether because they're cautious, pragmatic, strapped for cash, or simply don't see the point in changing something they don't need. But if it means allowing any use of AI tools at all, I'm sure there are still some companies meeting that criterion, but they're probably in industries far removed from tech.