Amazon revises AI guidance for engineers, warns against token overuse

Amazon has revised its internal guidelines for software engineers and managers on using artificial intelligence, according to a memo posted on its website. The document, first circulated in September, discourages "tokenmaxxing", the practice of using AI as heavily as possible with little regard for output. It tells engineers to inform management when AI is not useful for their work. Terk Terkowitz, a vice president and distinguished engineer at WorldWide Amazon Stores, wrote that counting tokens and lines of code are flawed ways to measure productivity. An Amazon spokesperson said the company has not set caps on employee token usage.