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Ask HN: Can we direct AI on our personal projects during work hours?

3•rpnx•6h ago
So here's the question I wanted to pose around AI usage. With modern advanced AI, much of the time, using AI consists of sending a message a waiting a long time (often an hour or more) before the AI finishes a task.

Which I think brings up an important question, is it okay to take short work breaks to send instructions to AI working on your personal projects during work hours?

Do any employers have policies around this? And how does it interact with legal standards?

Are the rules around work-product well suited to the modern AI age?

Does it matter if I'm hourly vs salaried?

Should we do the same thing for work (asking work AI to do things occasionally during personal time)?

Comments

byoung2•6h ago
I would imagine it is similar to running an AirBnB and answering a guest's message during work hours. Just don't be obvious about it and don't let it interfere with your main job.
runjake•3h ago
The first rule of AI club is you do not talk about personal AI projects at work.

- Don't do any of it on work equipment, otherwise your employer may own your works. Do you like being sued?

- Don't discuss it with people at work, otherwise your employer may own your works because: time and IP. Do you like being sued?

Keep your mouth shut, use your own equipment and probably even network (eg: cell) and you should be fine. Or do you like being sued?

rpnx•1h ago
Obviously using work equipment is a no-no. I'm also in agreement on point #2 aside that I think it's okay to discuss such topics e.g. during lunch in the same way you may discuss any other random topic at lunch.

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