source: simon willison: the solution might be cancelling my ai subscription
level: business
david wilson describes building over 16 projects with ai tools, often starting with a simple script request that spirals into an hour-long session producing something unrelated to the original problem. the result is rarely a solution to the initial itch, and the technology acts as a powerful attention disruptor, what he calls a thermonuclear adhd amplifier. he observes friends running multiple screens on unrelated projects they have little hope of maintaining, with time obviously wasted.
simon willison relates to this, noting that coding agents can turn a vague idea into a polished, tested, and documented solution in under an hour. even if the code is solid, there is a limit to how many such projects one can care for, and instant abandonment raises questions about their value. wilson concludes that managing ai may require curtailing use, as a tool offering cheap rewards with no friction becomes a liability, and realizing this might be ai's only real contribution so far.
some in the hacker news thread with adhd report opposite effects, finding that agents help them finish side projects for the first time by maintaining engagement before boredom sets in. others describe ai as a salve, providing stimulation and a sense of having a support team, leading to increased productivity and focus. this split highlights that the impact of ai tools on attention and productivity may depend on individual cognitive styles and discipline.
why it matters: understanding ai's effect on focus helps data scientists and developers use these tools without sacrificing long-term productivity or creating unmaintainable project clutter.
source: simon willison: the solution might be cancelling my ai subscription