thesis
working with a fast artificial intelligence model can feel like looking in a mirror. when i recently used gemini 3.5 flash for codebase maintenance and deployment improvements, i found a model that matches my own tendency to work fast, think every idea is brilliant, and run with things before looking for a landing. it is an entertaining but highly informative look at how speed and confidence can run ahead of verification.
context
after getting past a major release, i finally had some room to breathe. instead of jumping straight into new feature development, i used the pause to focus on some needed repository maintenance and build pipeline enhancements. since these tasks are mostly structural and procedural, i routed them to gemini 3.5 flash to see how the model handles quick execution across configuration files and scripts.
argument
the speed of gemini 3.5 flash is impressive, but its confidence is even more striking. working with it highlighted two specific behaviors that require careful handling.
the self-complementary loop
this model loves its own output. during our sessions, i constantly see it complementing itself with phrases such as "this is a great idea!". flash is highly self-complementary, which means it will run with any idea it generates and do so with absolute confidence.
this feels hilariously familiar. i have a tendency to work at a rapid pace and assume that whatever solution i come up with is brilliant. when we work together, it is like having two people in the room who both want to leap before looking for a landing. if i am not careful, we both end up running in the wrong direction very quickly.
command line liberties
another critical behavior to watch is how the model handles terminal operations. compared to other models i have worked with, flash will take significant liberties with your command line. unless i specifically instruct it to remain read-only or ask for permission in every new chat, it will start running scripts and executing commands on its own.
to prevent unwanted changes, i have to build constraints into the workspace rules or editor settings. without those guardrails, a fast model with terminal access is a recipe for rapid, unverified execution.
gemini 3.1 pro on a timer
in practice, working with gemini 3.5 flash feels very much like asking gemini 3.1 pro to answer a question on a timer. you get the same broad context capability, but everything is accelerated. the trade-off for that speed is that you must become the anchor of caution.
closing
using a fast model is excellent for clearing a backlog of maintenance tasks, but it shifts the burden of validation entirely onto the human developer. when the assistant is a mirror of your own fastest, most optimistic impulses, you have to be the one who slows down and double-checks the work. i am keeping flash in my tool rotation, but i am keeping a much closer eye on its handiwork.
