Note
November 5, 2026
1 min read
Who’s doing the manual work?
By Cristiano Pierry
As we work with AI, a familiar word like manual can leave us wondering who is going to do the work.
Astra, the AI I was working with, asked me a question today that made me pause:
“For the remaining bill-length mismatch and planted-toe slip, should I use precise manual edits to the individual source drawings?”
Manual edits? Was Astra asking me to make the corrections? Or was it offering to do them itself?
I asked for clarification. Astra replied:
“I would make the corrections here, by editing the individual source drawings. No outside illustrator is involved, and I haven't changed them yet.”
Astra was offering to do the manual work.
When I heard “manual,” I thought the work might be coming back to me. Astra meant it would make the precise edits to the individual drawings itself.
It’s a funny example of how language is evolving as we work with AI. A word that seems clear can leave out the detail we most need to know: who’s going to do the work?
This writing reflects my personal perspectives on product management, AI, and content discovery. It does not represent the official position of my employer or any affiliated organization.