The Core Laws
Thirteen laws for working with the literal colleague. No trade required.
Requires Genesis
IBound the askWhatever you leave unspecified will be filled with invention. Say what you want, and say what you don't.IISettle the plan before the workSteering a plan costs a sentence. Steering a finished piece of work costs the afternoon.IIICorrect at the first wobbleA wrong path costs more every minute it survives. Interrupt now; it is cheaper than untangling later.IVA repeated instruction is a missing ruleIf you have said it twice, stop saying it. Write it down where the machine reads it every time.VThe irreversible act is yoursDelegate anything you can undo. The deletes, sends, signatures, and payments stay in your hand, one at a time.VIThe source outranks the guessA generated answer carries no evidence. When a document, record, or measurement exists, make the machine read it and derive.VIINo claim without a fresh lookRemembered state is not observed state. Before you believe it, and long before you repeat it, check.VIIIProof is an artifact, not an assurance“Done” is an opinion. A thing you can open, run, or read is proof. Accept the proof.IXDurable or it didn't happenWork that lives only in the conversation evaporates with it. Put what you learned where it persists.XAsk for the holes, not the applauseThe machine agrees with whoever is steering. Prompt it to argue, and treat easy agreement as a warning.XIThe voice stays yoursA reader who smells the machine discounts the message. Strip the tells and keep your own hand on the final draft.XIIKnow the delegation lineHand over the mechanical without ceremony. Keep the judgment. Knowing which is which is the skill.XIIINever the sole authorityThe machine is one voice among your sources, and no voice judges its own dispute. When authorities disagree, bring the conflict in and decide yourself.