Chinese tech workers are training AI agents to replicate their skills and processes, sparking a wave of soul-searching among early adopters.

A viral GitHub project called Colleague Skill allows users to capture the essence of their coworkers, generating reusable manuals for AI agents. However, this move has prompted countermeasures from tech workers who see their work being reduced to modules.

Hancheng Cao, an assistant professor at Emory University, explains that companies benefit from creating detailed blueprints as they can standardize and automate tasks more effectively. But employees fear the process feels reductive and alienating, leading them to develop tools like “anti-distillation” software to push back against such practices.

The trend raises legal questions about ownership of work materials and personal traits captured by AI agents. Amber Li experimented with Colleague Skill but found it uncanny, feeling as though her unique quirks were being flattened into modules for replacement.

Nevertheless, this movement shows that while tech workers are embracing the potential benefits of AI, they are also determined to protect their individuality and dignity amid increasing automation.