No AI Fridays
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
HTMX's CEO proposes one AI-free day per week to reduce cognitive debt and re-engage with coding.
The site argues that using LLMs causes cognitive debt, reduces engagement, and harms critical thinking. It proposes turning off AI assistants every Friday to assess trade-offs and regain flow state. The initiative is led by the CEO of HTMX, who has mandated it at his company. The FAQ addresses convincing bosses, using tools like greptile or prelint for feedback, and adjusting frequency. The goal is to minimize AI downsides while retaining productivity gains.
What commenters are saying
Commenters split into supportive and critical camps. Supporters advocate for dedicated time to reflect and maintain skills, comparing it to taking breaks from phones or calculators. Critics argue that AI is more like a calculator than a crutch, and that writing code by hand is unnecessary rote work. Some note that design thinking often happens while coding, not just at high levels. One commenter humorously claims to have sold his AI token budget to colleagues for beer.