Quoting Terk Terkowitz
Quoting Terk Terkowitz
Amazon engineering leader Terk Terkowitz said that if your work doesn't benefit from current AI tools, that's a discovery rather than a failure. He advises engineers to document why, share it with peers, give feedback to managers and seek solutions, and believes engineers who can clearly explain why AI doesn't yet help their work are demonstrating exactly the judgment that's demanded. Simon Willison quoted this statement, which comes from an updated article by Amazon engineering leadership on the developer's role in the AI era.
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
Source: Simon Willison · simonwillison.net