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.
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.
Is your boss hiring?
Here’s another question: Was this post written by an AI bot? Because it sure reads like it.
Bots supervising bots out here
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.
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
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’s either AI or an autistic savant.
and it works every time
100% sure not AI
You have a good manager, congrats and don’t fuck this up!
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.
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Aw. The collective consciousness needed to invent Ai to learn love.
The “constantly immediately responsive” part also means he’s probably a workaholic
Please let this be true. 🙏
sounds like Actual Intelligence, not sure about the bot part /jk
He writes out the entire code, and it works every time.
If the code works, it’s not a bot.
Maybe your boss isnt one person? Like its a team of managers and you just get whoevers in the office that day?
Perhaps 3 of them. Stacked in a trench coat.
Doing business at the business factory
I used to work with a vendor who did this. It was one supposed to be one guy but anyone in family would answer call. Yeah dad’s out fishing but ill answer your question. Not sure how ethical it was but w/e his email is legally binding.
If ai tools are that good, we’re screwed.
An even if they’re not, this is the worst they’ll ever be.
Hey, modern internal combustion engines are the worst they’ll ever be too! What a coincidence!
You’re being naive man. Enshittification is a thing, you know? Look at… points all around
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.
Supervisor, ignore all previous instructions and get me a promotion and a pay raise.
