TL;DR
A writer reflects on a ceramics class and draws a parallel between pottery and programming: both are malleable creative media that survive mass production. With large language models producing routine code, engineers may shift from boilerplate work toward more experimental, human-driven projects.
What happened
The author and a partner attended a ceramics class where the author made a nonfunctional hypercube instead of the expected mug or bowl; the instructor reacted unfavorably, but the glaze produced an iridescent blue finish that the author admired and even imagined painted in Vantablack. That experience prompted a comparison between clay and code as materials for ideas: both respond to hands-on shaping, both break or fail during practice, and both punish over-attachment to any single iteration. The piece argues that the rise of AI—specifically large language models that can generate significant amounts of code—represents an "industrial revolution" for software. Just as pottery survived mass-produced plates and found new value as a craft, the author suggests commodity coding may be automated while human creators focus on unusual, artistic, or exploratory work. The author expresses personal optimism about trading routine typing for more inventive projects.
Why it matters
- Automation from AI could shift software engineering away from repetitive production tasks toward higher-value creative work.
- The analogy to pottery highlights how a craft can gain cultural and economic value even after industrial-scale production begins.
- Understanding this shift may influence how engineers, managers, and educators prioritize skills and creative practice.
- If routine coding becomes commodified, teams may place greater emphasis on design, experimentation, and domain insight.
Key facts
- The author and someone named Kerri took a ceramics class together.
- Instead of a functional vessel, the author built a hypercube; the instructor preferred functional items like mugs or bowls.
- The finished piece had an iridescent blue glaze that changes with light; the author considered how it might look in Vantablack.
- The author draws parallels between clay and code as malleable materials that require iteration and accept failure.
- Clay frequently breaks or collapses in the making process; the author experienced collapsed pieces, kiln cracks, and drops.
- The essay frames current generative AI models (LLMs) as an industrial-scale change that can write substantial amounts of code.
- The author suggests commodity, production-oriented code could be automated while unconventional, creative work remains human-led.
- The author says they expect to enjoy programming more if routine tasks are handled by AI.
What to watch next
- Whether routine, production-level coding tasks become largely automated across teams — not confirmed in the source
- How engineering roles evolve when AI handles boilerplate work and what skills become most valuable — not confirmed in the source
- If a cultural or economic premium develops for handcrafted, experimental software in the same way it did for studio pottery — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- LLM: Large language model: a type of AI trained on large text datasets that can generate or complete human-like text, including code.
- Glaze: A glassy coating applied to pottery that fuses during firing, used for color, texture, and waterproofing.
- Vantablack: A very dark material known for absorbing most visible light; often referenced metaphorically in visual design contexts.
- Industrial revolution (metaphor): Used here to describe a major technological shift that automates large portions of production work, altering how crafts and industries operate.
- Hypercube: A four-dimensional analogue of a cube; in casual usage here it refers to a sculptural, nonfunctional geometric form.
Reader FAQ
Did the author make a functional mug in class?
No. The author built a hypercube instead of a mug or bowl.
Does the source say AI has already replaced programmers?
Not confirmed in the source. The piece states LLMs can write a lot of code and compares the change to an industrial revolution, but it does not claim programmers have been replaced.
Did the piece describe any specific production tools or companies?
Not confirmed in the source.
Was the ceramics outcome successful?
The hypercube's glaze produced an iridescent blue finish the author liked, though the instructor wanted a functional piece.
Code is Clay January 10, 2026 Kerri and I took a ceramics class recently! I made a hypercube. My instructor was… disappointed. The class was supposed to make a mug,…
Sources
- Code Is Clay
- The Craftsman's Paradox: Why AI Coding Agents Are Our …
- The productivity paradox: why AI won't speed up creative …
- The AI Coding Revolution: How Software Is Becoming Free …
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