AI adoption isn’t the same as AI usage

The New Stack · 3 weeks ago · 50

An engineer argues that most AI adoption metrics measure usage (tokens, pull requests, code written) rather than actual workflow improvement, and that genuine adoption requires permanent changes to team processes rather than individual tool experimentation. Real adoption occurs in three tiers: personal habit changes (temporary), handoff of recurring tasks (more durable), and formal process changes (survives turnover), with most organizations only celebrating the first tier. The author recommends killing one recurring job per person permanently, establishing one official team norm quarterly, and measuring outcomes rather than usage metrics.