This is gonna be more of a rant than anything else

I build automations for businesses and I've lost count of the amount of times they've asked me to write them an AI agent when in fact a simple Python automation would work 100 times better.

I don't understand the hype behind AI agents and LLMs. They're non-deterministic, they're unreliable, they always need a human to babysit them because they are going to hallucinate bad output sooner or later.

I've made more money from simple Python automations than I have with AI agents, even though the latter gets so much hype and marketing behind it.

Most people who say they want an AI agent don't really want an AI agent. They just want some code that automatically does some repetitive task for them. And 9 times out of 10, simple Python code can do that for you.

Now, one caveat, I love using AI to write Python code for me. That is actually very helpful, but that is very different from using an AI agent.

I've built many automations for other businesses and I've also automated 20-30 hours of my own work week. and I still haven't had to build a complete AI agent. There are certain steps in my automations where some sort of judgement is required and I use an LLM for that very specific tiny task. But pretty much everything that I write is pure Python automation. Just simple deterministic code that's guaranteed to work the same way every single time.

Seriously, people have the choice between a reliable automation that doesn't need babysitting and a magic crystal ball that might sometimes work and might fail and crash in other times and yet they somehow keep picking the crystal ball. It's baffling to me.

Anyway, rant over.

Weekly Thread: Professional Use, Jobs, and Education 🏢

Welcome to this week's discussion on Python in the professional world! This is your spot to talk about job hunting, career growth, and educational resources in Python. Please note, this thread is not for recruitment.

How it Works:

1. Career Talk: Discuss using Python in your job, or the job market for Python roles.

2. Education Q&A: Ask or answer questions about Python courses, certifications, and educational resources.

3. Workplace Chat: Share your experiences, challenges, or success stories about using Python professionally.

Guidelines:

• This thread is not for recruitment. For job postings, please see or the recruitment thread in the sidebar.

• Keep discussions relevant to Python in the professional and educational context.

Example Topics:

1. Career Paths: What kinds of roles are out there for Python developers?

2. Certifications: Are Python certifications worth it?

3. Course Recommendations: Any good advanced Python courses to recommend?

4. Workplace Tools: What Python libraries are indispensable in your professional work?

5. Interview Tips: What types of Python questions are commonly asked in interviews?

Let's help each other grow in our careers and education. Happy discussing! 🌟