He built Terraform, Vagrant, and Ghostty. Here’s how he stopped fighting AI and started using it.
Last Updated on February 9, 2026 by Editorial Team
Author(s): JP Caparas
Originally published on Towards AI.
Mitchell Hashimoto’s six-step path from AI sceptic to pragmatic adopter landed differently because of who he is. He’s not the only one who changed his mind.
Mitchell Hashimoto doesn’t work for an AI company.

Hashimoto reflects on his journey from AI skepticism to adoption, emphasizing the importance of practical experience and understanding over shortcuts. He outlines a framework involving six steps where he advocates for a deep understanding of tools through manual effort instead of full reliance on AI, which often creates an illusion of efficiency. This counterintuitive approach highlights the need for self-awareness in adopting AI technologies, cautioning against complacency and advocating for a balance between skill formation and automation.
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