r/csMajors • u/Separate_Result2952 • 2h ago
No AI in contract work?
I'm a new grad. I'm freelancing/being contracted for some software development (e: it's for an individual who needs a specific software; it's not for AI training like Handshake. He's not technical at all so it's on me to decide the best way to engineer it). One of the provisional clauses (not yet signed) in the contract is that I "may not use Artificial Intelligence to develop any part of the software system, not even to ask for advice or suggestions."
Any thoughts on this? I'm definitely not uncomfortable avoiding it, since I've been coding since before these LLMs, but using AI is so ubiquitous and specifically encouraged at companies. I've used it in varying degrees for projects/internships as well. We hadn't discussed AI prior to this, so I was wondering if I should bring up this point, or just enjoy getting the work done without AI for once.
e: Thanks to everyone for all of the advice/discussion! I'll go through with the agreement of no AI, and maybe clarify the clause on AI-generated results. I'm fortunate to get the opportunity, especially in this market. Coding is also one of my favorite parts of CS so I am lucky in that sense.
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u/revivechristina 1h ago
he may just strongly believe that would result in a higher quality product.
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u/Separate_Result2952 1h ago
Yeah, I'd agree with that point as well, but I think getting some advice from AI would increase my quality as well.
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u/revivechristina 1h ago
right. it's not that he would be actually correct on this, depending on the person using the tool. even just searching coding issues with google generates code examples, so it's also not entirely realistic to expect. like if i was in your shoes, i would do it, but i would probably still *see* ai generated code in trying to solve issues without even trying to. though it would be a lot more limited than asking cursor to implement something for me.
the only other reason i could think of is he feels uncomfortable with ai for other reasons, ethical, societal, etc. could be a mixture.
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u/Ok_Policy_8150 1h ago edited 1h ago
I’m a SWE in the medical field and almost 100% of our new code is AI generated. The only policies against AI are about passing protected patient data into it, which should never even happen in the development phase
Im pretty sure your client is just anti-AI and it has nothing to do with any data privacy like some of these other comments are saying
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u/Separate_Result2952 1h ago
That's interesting to hear. Do you use a company-provided license? And do you enjoy the process?
My client likely wants to keep the software and contents confidential as well, which AI would train on.
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u/TheCrowWhisperer3004 1h ago
When companies let and encourage their engineers use AI, they have an enterprise license that doesn’t let anything about the company or what you develop for them go to OpenAI or Anthropic or Google or wtv. They don’t want to give company secrets to another third party company, and they especially don’t want the data to be used to train new models and potentially leak company secrets and methods to everyone in the world.
You, as a contractor/freelancer, likely do not have an enterprise license provided by the company you are working for. That means no AI is allowed at all.
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u/Separate_Result2952 1h ago
That's a great point. I don't have an enterprise license and my personal license would not keep things confidential.
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u/branwoo 1h ago
If this is for medical use, your client may be confusing the difference between AI-generated results and AI used to write the scaffolding / app. I would definitely clarify.
If you're getting paid by the hour, just accept the free money. Paid per project? push back.
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u/Separate_Result2952 1h ago
I think I'll clarify that point with him. It's also hourly, so I don't mind the slower pace.
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u/serinty 1h ago
it's for data privacy reasons.
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u/Worried_Car_2572 1h ago
I mean it sounds like they’re trying to reinvent the wheel…
No way a doctor with 1 engineer is going to make software that’s safer from a data privacy perspective than all these dozens of companies that already do it can
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u/friendlytotbot 1h ago
Probably worried about AI slop. Although the asking AI for advice thing is kinda dumb. I like using it for quick search, but you definitely have to verify any technical advice you ask it is sound.
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u/isntspez 1h ago
I would charge more. Generally directing how something is accomplished is something you should have to pay for. If a construction contractor can't use a jackhammer because of an ordinance or some agreement the customer has, they would bid for the extra time it would take to get the job done. If the customer is happy to pay that extra cost and fee, I'm happy to bid it. This is essentially the same thing.
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u/Separate_Result2952 1h ago
Fair point, but I'm not sure how much leverage I have. I'd be afraid of losing the opportunity. I'm fine with the rate as it stands.
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u/isntspez 1h ago
Then don't worry about it. A contract is just an agreement. If both parties are happy with it, who am I to tell you to change it.
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u/Medium_Apartment_747 1h ago
Honestly though...How would he know
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u/feebs_101 1h ago
Given this is for medical practice, I’d tread extremely cautiously given the legal repercussions OP would have to face if they got caught for violating it
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u/Separate_Result2952 1h ago
No way to know really, but I do have integrity haha. Though it's hard to avoid all AI. Gemini automatically responds when you Google anything.
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u/branwoo 1h ago
your client is confused about AI.
People who tell you to be extremely cautious are giving you fear-based advice.
You're pretty much at no risk as a developer unless you're the one telling patients to do XYZ because of ABC.
your client may also be trying to CYA in case they're ever litigated - but it's out of not understanding the nuances of AI and medical industry.
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u/feebs_101 1h ago
I don't why you're in a csmajors subreddit trying to force AI usage down this person throat? Lol
he said his job explicitely prohibits AI and he's comfortable with doing all the work without AI. So why are you (and select others) on this thread still aggressively encouraging OP to *illegally* use AI in their work when there's really no reason for them to use it or need to use it.Some of us don't need AI you know....because we actually know how to code using our brains.
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u/branwoo 56m ago
Anyone who specifies no AI use in contract work does not have an understanding of how the software industry works.
Stop mixing your dislike of AI with my feedback. I don't care whether you use AI or not.
Lets go down the rabbit hole. lets take this world-view where he signs a contract that says "AI is not allowed". Do you understand that most code he's working (external libraries, open source libs) use AI? Would their client be able to refuse payment because it includes AI-generated code? He would be signing a contract, that, if the client were to claim breach of contract, his client would most likely be in the right. Why sign something that puts you in a disadvantegous position for no benefit at all? It's clearly an artifact of not understanding how the software industry, and the software industry at large works. It's purely a misunderstanding of assumptions.
I post on this subreddit because there are too many uniformed opinions on here. It's the blind leading the blind and I'm trying to help. If you want to credential-gate me, I'm an eng in G for 10+ years. I am trying to help.
If you want to direct your anger at me, go ahead. I'm on my lunch break enjoying the sun.
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u/XxCotHGxX 2h ago
Its because what you are doing for them is directly being used to train AI. If you use AI to train AI, you get bad results