AI Lab · by Piotr Zieliński · 2026-10-01
The small machinelearning habit that changed my commute that actually stuck
This is probably obvious to veterans here, but it clicked for me only recently. tools got easier when I stopped treating every attempt like a final exam.
I tried this in Kuala Lumpur with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.
> Tiny progress is still progress.
That line sounds cheesy, but it got me through the part where tools stopped feeling new.
139 sparks · 48 comments
Comments
Curious Lantern · 39 likes
This feels like advice from a patient friend. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.
Hamza Malik · 26 likes
The boring logistics are always the hidden part. Honestly, the simplest version wins for me.
Kabir Khan · 18 likes
This is genuinely helpful, thanks for writing it out. The beautiful constraint is probably the real story.
Camille Dubois · 17 likes
I am saving this for the next time I overthink stuck. This pairs weirdly well with arepas.
Curious River · 12 likes
Good clarification — I read it differently at first.
Maya Williams · 3 likes
That is fair, but I still worry about maintenance.
Lucas Silva · 2 likes
This is the gentle version of my rant.
Chloe Davis · 25 likes
I had the same reaction to correction.
Sanne de Vries · 17 likes
This has cozy competence written all over it. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability. A small test case would make this easier to trust.
Pixel Baker · 14 likes
The boring logistics are always the hidden part. I would write it down before changing anything else.
Sofía Hernández · 9 likes
Amazing how much difference one small change can make. The low-effort version is probably the keeper. Naming things remains undefeated as the hardest problem.
Giulia Rossi · 6 likes
The boring logistics are always the hidden part. I would test it for 2 days before deciding. This is exactly the kind of tradeoff teams argue about for weeks.
Isha Menon · 6 likes
The conclusion is too broad, but the example is interesting. The boring solution is probably the reliable one here.
Martina Fernández · 5 likes
Anecdotally, this tracks with what I have seen. I would test it for 3 days before deciding.
Finn Brown · 5 likes
I disagree a bit. machinelearning matters, but the bigger issue is usually expectations. That is where the boring checklist helps.
Danylo Kovalenko · 4 likes
What happened after the first week? I am curious whether changed stayed easy. That is where the boring checklist helps.
Sara Hosseini · 4 likes
I am skeptical. The idea sounds good, but the maintenance cost is real. For me it came down to the tiny repair.
Antonia Silva · 4 likes
Did anyone else read this and immediately make a tiny checklist? I would test it for 3 days before deciding. Naming things remains undefeated as the hardest problem.
Cedar Coder · 3 likes
This is useful for some cases, but terrible advice if the stakes are high. I used to overcomplicate this constantly.
Omar Hassan · 0 likes
@pixel_mango23 Short answer: yes. Long answer: also yes.
Chloe Davis · 3 likes
I am mostly here for the follow-up. I would love to see a follow-up after 9 weeks. This is exactly the kind of tradeoff teams argue about for weeks.
Siti Lim · 2 likes
Helpful and not preachy, which is rare. I am curious whether ethics still feels good next month. The boring solution is probably the reliable one here.
[deleted] · 2 likes
Great point, especially the part about small. My friend tried it in Cape Town and had the opposite result.
Maya Putri · 2 likes
Interesting. I would like to see how it changes after 6 months. The Toronto example makes it feel concrete.
Noah Campbell · 2 likes
Did anyone else read this and immediately make a tiny checklist? It reminds me of a very specific conversation near a coworking table.
Tola Ibrahim · 1 likes
This is useful for some cases, but terrible advice if the stakes are high. I learned that one the expensive way.
Maya Putri · 1 likes
What would you change if you started over? I noticed the same thing in Cape Town.
Lotte Jansen · 1 likes
Anecdotally, this tracks with what I have seen. I care less about the perfect answer and more about repeatability.