What Should We Optimize Away?
The article argues that modern optimization of productivity and efficiency often misses what truly matters, suggesting we should instead focus on optimizing away distraction, busyness, and unnecessary complexity to make room for deeper thinking and meaningful work.
Background
- From autodidacts.io, a blog by self-taught technologists who reflect on building systems. Not mainstream tech journalism — the author writes as a thoughtful generalist.
- The central question: as we optimize tools and workflows for speed and efficiency, what human activities, skills, or experiences are we accidentally eliminating? A critique of the Silicon Valley belief that optimization equals progress.
- Draws on Ivan Illich ("convivial tools" — beyond a certain scale, tools do more harm than good), Wendell Berry (automation erodes local knowledge and community), and Douglas Rushkoff (total optimization tends toward "digi-fascism").
- Part of a broader tech debate: "optimization culture" (the drive to make everything faster, cheaper, measurable) versus "slow tech," "degrowth," and "appropriate technology" movements pushing back.