I deleted every script, JSON config and validator from my AI image pipeline — and the results got dramatically better. This episode is about the deeper philosophy of working with AI: restraint.
00:07 Wrapping AI in scripts and validators made its images worse
01:23 Automation strangled the model's artistic ability
02:27 Deleting the rules unlocked the AI
03:37 Claude Code cut 80% of its system prompts
04:31 The engineer's habit of constraining everything
05:37 Work with AI as a partner, not a commander
06:46 No system is 100% controllable
08:01 Too many constraints create complex systems and surprises
09:08 Two rules: don't constrain what you don't master, keep systems simple