Terk Terkowitz: AI Not Being Helpful Is Also a Finding; Engineers Should Document and Share It
Amazon engineering leader Terk Terkowitz said in an internal update that if current AI tools are not helpful for the work, that is a finding rather than a failure, and one should document the reasons, share them with peers and managers, and look for solutions. He pointed out that engineers who can explain where AI cannot yet help them with their work are demonstrating the judgment that is expected.
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28th October 2026
If your work does not benefit from current AI tooling, that is a finding, not a failing. Document why, share it with your community of peers, bring it to your manager, and work to find solutions. An engineer who can explain where AI does not yet help their work is demonstrating the judgement we are asking for.
— Terk Terkowitz, An update from Amazon engineering leadership on the role of the developer in the age of AI
Posted 28th October 2026 at 10:09 am
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This is a quotation collected by Simon Willison, posted on 28th October 2026.