The pressure to use AI
I am feeling more pressure every day at work to use AI as part of my development workflow; specifically, to use multiple tools and integrate them into my processes. I worry when the amount of pressure will lead to me exiting my role.
I have found AI useful at some things. It's good at reading documents and suggesting ways to get them more in line with company standards, and it's ok at reading code and making suggestions on how to optimize it. I imagine if I use it more, I'll find more uses, although I'm pretty skeptical about its ability to create anything of substance.
My real friction is around the ethics of using it. I wish more people would stop and ask "do we want the world we are creating?" We know AI has been harmful to mental health (especially among children), decreases our reasoning skills, increases unemployment, and has pushed our energy usage so far we're delaying shutting down coal plants.
I understand there's open debates around all those issues, but there's enough evidence there I think anyone of good will has right to say "that's not something I want to be involved in," in the same way that someone living in a city with good public transport might decide not to drive a car or someone might choose to not eat meat. I don't see the advantages making AI use a necessity.