Non-AI essay challenge reportedly drew about 100 submissions in a day

On October 6, an organizer said the non-AI essay challenge had received about 100 submissions the previous day, mostly from developers reflecting on industry changes. The organizer said many essays would be shared with readers. People who put considerable effort into the challenge were promised a physical The Pragmatic Engineer gift package; the organizer said the authors of seven submissions it called “AI slop” would receive nothing under the no-AI rule.