The petty squabble

Here’s an idea to save money on AI compute: instead of giving people the resources they need to innovate, give them monthly quotas. When they run out, they learn how to manage better and prioritize the good ideas. This creates a marketplace dynamic, discourages waste, and makes resource planning easier.

Except… it ends up treating your most creative employees like children.

I’ve seen week-long squabbles between top-level AI engineers (folks with high 6-figure compensations) arguing over GPU resources worth less than the cost of having those conversations. Demoralizing. It makes one wonder: “Do I want to work here?”

There is such a thing as cost over-optimization.