We must convert AI into the devil’s advocate

The week's must-know news for engineering leaders

Author

Phil A
March 20, 2025

This week’s bytes:

  • How to create AI with rebellious, disruptive thinking

  • What to do about layoff anxiety as a manager

  • The #1 secret to perfect UX

Worth reading

2-minute read by Kyle Wiggers

Hugging Face’s Thomas Wolf warns that AI isn’t on track to spark groundbreaking discoveries—it’s just repeating what we already know. Unlike humans who challenge norms, today’s AI models act as obedient students, not innovators. To change this, we must help AI ask questions no one else would think of.

6-minute read by David Dye & Karin Hurt

Conflict in dev teams is a given, but it doesn’t have to be a dumpster fire. Build trust, set clear expectations, and ask questions before pointing fingers. The cheat code? The Four Cs: connection, clarity, curiosity, and commitment. Master these, and you’ll turn beef into breakthroughs instead of office drama.

4-minute read by Kelli Korducki

Tech layoffs aren’t slowing down, and engineers are stressed. Good managers don’t just ignore it—they step up. That means straight talk, not corporate fluff. Be real about what you know, check in on your team, and don’t let burnout spiral. In uncertain times, silence kills morale faster than bad news.

Highlights from Human[X], the top AI conference for business leaders

10-minute read by Heather Joslyn

The first-ever Human[X] conference has been tackling the AI hype head-on—booming investment, rapid innovation, and the looming governance problem. AI is clearly “a little frothy,” but history shows bubbles often spark revolutions. The next Human[X], slated for April 7-9, 2026, will be held in San Francisco, offering more opportunities to discuss implementation, trends, and challenges.

4-minute read by Stefan Wolpers

Agile teams are tired of AI giving generic, out-of-touch advice. Enter the Agile Prompt Engineering Framework—the first structured approach to AI prompts designed for Agile workflows. By clarifying context, goals, and constraints, teams get actionable, relevant insights instead of vague nonsense. It’s AI that actually speaks Agile.

Best quick bytes

#1. 🏆

Will big companies rely on Leetcode or prestige? It’s a rock or a hard place.

#2. 🏆

A little case study of what’s possible right now. Beware of disruptors. More are coming.

#3. 🏆

Send this to your favorite UX designer. Manipulation always wins.

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