Some employers now require AI training, a set number of tokens, or a minimum amount of time logged on AI platforms. A Washington Post piece, via Slashdot, says that can backfire.
What the research says
“You can consume a lot of tokens without creating a lot of value,” says Stanford’s Arvind Karunakaran. His research found mandates can bump productivity in the short term, but over the medium to long term employees feel devalued and disengaged, and start going through the motions. Stanford HAI also reports AI adoption is moving faster than the internet did, while a third of surveyed organizations expect AI-related staff cuts next year. Mandates in that climate make people ask, “What am I getting out of it?”
My take
Token counts are a terrible metric. I use AI all day because it actually saves me time, not because someone’s counting. Show people a real win on a real task and they’ll come along on their own.
God Bless, and Happy hacking!
