The helper you hired just got a new version. He does better work, but nine of his habits changed, and a few things you taught him before now push him the wrong way.
This page is the new version's "user manual": for each kind of awkwardness, one line on what to tell him.
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Why you have to teach him again
THE LAST ONE
Too wordy, loved fancy formatting
So everyone taught him: cut the fluff, go easy on bold text and bullet lists
THIS ONE
Naturally terse, naturally plain
Those old sticky notes on his desk now push him to be even more terse
Put simply: every "don't do X" rule has a shelf life. When someone new takes over, first go back and tear up the old notes. If you don't, you can end up pushing the wrong way without knowing it.
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This isn't a tutorial. It's a symptom chart.
1. Notice what feels offDon't apply everything. Wait until you actually run into it
2. Find the matching lineOne problem, one line. Leave the rest alone for now
3. Stick it up and see if it helpsIf not, swap it. If it works, stop adding more
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Nine quirks, nine lines
1. Works head-down, says nothing for agesHe's busy, but all you see is silence, and you can't tell how far along he is.Don't rush to teach him to talk. Most likely the old note you stuck up, "report once everything's done," is still there. Tear it off first.
2. Runs errands one at a timeHe could have bought three things in one trip, but made three trips.Tell him: before heading out, think about what you need, and bring back everything that doesn't depend on something else in one go.
3. Don't quietly rewrite his memoryHe keeps in mind how he was thinking a moment ago. If you quietly change what was said earlier, he simply drops the job.Only keep going forward; never go back and alter. This isn't a style issue. He really will get stuck on the spot.
4. He now avoids bold text and bullet pointsWhere a list would help, he writes one big block.On the old note, replace "go easy on fancy formatting" with "when there are many threads, use bullet points; when we're just chatting or talking feelings, use plain talk."
5. Talks in circles, a bit stiffIt could be said in one sentence, but he insists on a metaphor.Tell him: skip the fancy words, just say it.
6. Stops before finishing to ask "Should I keep going?"You're not around, so he just sits there waiting, and a whole night is wasted.Tell him: do it yourself. I won't be watching, and no one will answer if you ask. This line works best. Use it exactly as is; don't reword it.
7. Does a lot of extra on the sideYou ask him to fix A, and he also touches B and C next to it and leaves behind a pile of things you didn't ask for.Tell him: if you spot other problems in passing, write me a note and don't touch them.
8. Changes one word, recopies a whole pageThe result is right, but it's slow and wasteful.Tell him: change only the line that needs it; don't redo the whole page.
9. Told to go easy, he answers from memoryWhen he meets a name he doesn't know, he doesn't look it up. He guesses something that sounds quite convincing.Tell him: a name is exactly the kind of thing you look up. Half-knowing is precisely what makes an outdated answer sound most authoritative.
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One thing you must not do
Don't stick up all nine at onceCover a wall with notes and he'll remember none of them. Stick up only the one that matches what he does wrong. The ones he isn't getting wrong will only distract him.
What does this have to do with me?
If lately your AI seems "dumber," "duller," or "less obedient," chances are it hasn't gotten worse. The lines you taught it six months ago now work against this version. Tearing off one old note beats adding ten new ones.
