Are AI Agents like von Hammerstein's industrious and stupid?
"I divide my officers into four classes; the clever, the lazy, the industrious, and the stupid. Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious are fitted for the highest staff appointments. Use can be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy however is for the very highest command; he has the temperament and nerves to deal with all situations. But whoever is stupid and industrious is a menace and must be removed immediately!” ― Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord At first i was thrilled at the incredible speed of my new coding partner. Chatting with the agent felt like talknig to a real person, which blinded me a bit and made me forget many rational rules of software development. A few refactorings and many learnings later i find resonance in HN where people critizize which at the beginning i was so enthusiastic about. I have this incredibly industrious partner, blazingly fast but mindless and oblivious. Am i the guy Hammerstein told us to avoid, or is it my Agent(or worse, is it the combination of us both)? Imagine an industrious and stupid one with an AI Agent. 3 comments on Hacker News.
"I divide my officers into four classes; the clever, the lazy, the industrious, and the stupid. Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious are fitted for the highest staff appointments. Use can be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy however is for the very highest command; he has the temperament and nerves to deal with all situations. But whoever is stupid and industrious is a menace and must be removed immediately!” ― Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord At first i was thrilled at the incredible speed of my new coding partner. Chatting with the agent felt like talknig to a real person, which blinded me a bit and made me forget many rational rules of software development. A few refactorings and many learnings later i find resonance in HN where people critizize which at the beginning i was so enthusiastic about. I have this incredibly industrious partner, blazingly fast but mindless and oblivious. Am i the guy Hammerstein told us to avoid, or is it my Agent(or worse, is it the combination of us both)? Imagine an industrious and stupid one with an AI Agent.
"I divide my officers into four classes; the clever, the lazy, the industrious, and the stupid. Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious are fitted for the highest staff appointments. Use can be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy however is for the very highest command; he has the temperament and nerves to deal with all situations. But whoever is stupid and industrious is a menace and must be removed immediately!” ― Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord At first i was thrilled at the incredible speed of my new coding partner. Chatting with the agent felt like talknig to a real person, which blinded me a bit and made me forget many rational rules of software development. A few refactorings and many learnings later i find resonance in HN where people critizize which at the beginning i was so enthusiastic about. I have this incredibly industrious partner, blazingly fast but mindless and oblivious. Am i the guy Hammerstein told us to avoid, or is it my Agent(or worse, is it the combination of us both)? Imagine an industrious and stupid one with an AI Agent. 3 comments on Hacker News.
"I divide my officers into four classes; the clever, the lazy, the industrious, and the stupid. Each officer possesses at least two of these qualities. Those who are clever and industrious are fitted for the highest staff appointments. Use can be made of those who are stupid and lazy. The man who is clever and lazy however is for the very highest command; he has the temperament and nerves to deal with all situations. But whoever is stupid and industrious is a menace and must be removed immediately!” ― Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord At first i was thrilled at the incredible speed of my new coding partner. Chatting with the agent felt like talknig to a real person, which blinded me a bit and made me forget many rational rules of software development. A few refactorings and many learnings later i find resonance in HN where people critizize which at the beginning i was so enthusiastic about. I have this incredibly industrious partner, blazingly fast but mindless and oblivious. Am i the guy Hammerstein told us to avoid, or is it my Agent(or worse, is it the combination of us both)? Imagine an industrious and stupid one with an AI Agent.
Hacker News story: Are AI Agents like von Hammerstein's industrious and stupid?
![Hacker News story: Are AI Agents like von Hammerstein's industrious and stupid?]()
Reviewed by Tha Kur
on
March 21, 2026
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