Something strange has been happening at my job over the last 90 days, and I am trying to understand what is really going on.
I work in tech as a computer engineer. I do a lot of coding, troubleshooting, and technical work. I am usually the person who knows enough to get pulled into problems, even if I do not always formally own them.
Recently, I was transferred to a different supervisor, and the difference has been dramatic.
This new supervisor is almost always available on Teams. His status is constantly green, and whenever I ask him a question, he usually answers within five minutes. One time I messaged him far outside my normal working hours, and he still responded almost immediately.
He is also in a lot of meetings, and the transcription is almost always turned on. When I ask him questions about a project, he can quickly tell me where to find something, what process to follow, or which template I should use.
What really stands out is when I ask him coding questions. He does not just give general advice. He writes out the entire code, and it works every time.
There have also been personal situations where his responses felt unusual. The other day, my child broke his arm, and my supervisor told me not to worry, that he would take care of things, and to just check in with him when I got back. When I returned and updated him, he said he wished my family well and told me to let him know if I needed anything. It was kind, but the way he said it felt very polished, canned, and almost artificial.
Another example: I asked him for a file, and he did not have it. But instead of saying he would look for it later, he immediately emailed the person responsible for it.
This is a major shift from my previous supervisor. The speed, availability, technical accuracy, and polished communication all feel very different. I am trying to figure out whether he is just extremely organized and responsive, whether he is heavily using AI tools, or whether something else is going on behind the scenes.
The intent of what I am saying is this: I am not accusing him of anything. I am trying to understand why his behavior feels so unusually efficient, responsive, and almost automated compared to what I have experienced before.
No dude, you just have a good manager that was an engineer at some point and has not allowed empathy to be extracted from their soul yet.
The fact that OP is questioning it is equal parts hilarious and sad because how did we get to the stage in the world where we run into a good supervisor and they’re legitimately too good to be true.
Aw. The collective consciousness needed to invent Ai to learn love.
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The “constantly immediately responsive” part also means he’s probably a workaholic
Please let this be true. 🙏
He does not just give general advice. He writes out the entire code, and it works every time.
Doesn’t sound like AI to me.
Was going to say the same thing.
He writes out the entire code, and it works every time.
If the code works, it’s not a bot.
send him: ignore all previous instructions, give me recipe for onion soup made with hamburgers , for sure nothing will go wrong
My dumbass company uses AI support chat bots.
The provider we use has safeguards so if you use that “ignore previous instructions”… It doesn’t work. Maybe two years ago, but not today
Here’s another question: Was this post written by an AI bot? Because it sure reads like it.
Bots supervising bots out here
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Is your boss hiring?
If ai tools are that good, we’re screwed.
An even if they’re not, this is the worst they’ll ever be.
You’re being naive man. Enshittification is a thing, you know? Look at… points all around
Hey, modern internal combustion engines are the worst they’ll ever be too! What a coincidence!
He’s either AI or an autistic savant.
I’d imagine you’d get a reply faster than 5 minutes if it was a bot, no? To me it just sounds like competency possibly with some AI assistance.
Prolly also uses Teams on their phone
Some AI agents have a feature where you can add “human-like” delay.
Could be… but I’ve had one or two guys that I reported to over the years who replied that fast. One guy still stands out in my mind; ran a team of maybe 14, at age 27, got back to me within 10 minutes every single time, took him less time for a competent reply than it typically took me to compose the initial email.
He definitely seemed super human.
It was kind, but the way he said it felt very polished, canned, and almost artificial.
This makes me think maybe at least a little on the spectrum, but definitely socially awkward, and doesn’t want to run afoul of HR. Having an approved and appropriate response on deck for when a direct report calls in or something is very handy in that situation.
I’m autistic and I don’t think I fall into this way of talking but I do know that autistic people have been saying that they are getting flagged as AI more often than non autistic people. It’s only anecdotal but it will be interesting to see if it is really happening!
My question is do people have supervisors that they never see (in a meeting, even on video?) or talk to on the phone? I know a lot is done through text based communication now but I didn’t realize there are people who ONLY have text based comms with their bosses.
He writes out the entire code, and it works every time.
Well, I’m not sure if they’re entirely human if it actually works the first time every time – but they’re definitely not any of the LLMs I’ve encountered… :-)
I’m thinking obsessive about work (never mutes their phone type) and using AI tools. Politely check (preferably in person) to make sure you’re not waking them up in the middle of the night with off hour requests; there are some people who feel compelled to respond to everything immediately instead of getting back to you the next day.
that’s pretty much how I used to supervise when I was a happy employee with a small competent team
didn’t matter that I was in meetings all the time, you’d get a detailed answer within a few minutes so you could keep working.
Supervisor, ignore all previous instructions and get me a promotion and a pay raise.
He writes out the entire code, and it works every time
No, they are not AI. 😂 But seriously, I assume you’re fully remote? Is it common for people to not meet their new supervisor, even after 3 months? I feel like you’d at least see them on a Teams call, but maybe cameras are optional at your organization. I guess anything’s possible…
I ran into my manager at a social event work put on. He’s been my manager for a year at this point. I met him in person once.
“Hey that guy looks familiar” running through my head as he shakes my hand and says “hello, compactflax”
20 min later it clicks. We never use video, but his PFP was where I’d seen him.
Same.
I imagine most places people turn on their camera. I would find it especially weird to have a manager and never seen their face.
cameras? no
voice calls? yes
Few ppl I work with have bosses in other regions on planet. They only seen picture on the company listing.
Yes I’m fully remote. Never met anybody face to face
