Am I a shell?

Based on Shell Theory, this tool determines whether AI is amplifying your output or rescuing it to the flatline. Answer six questions honestly. The math will do the rest.

Step 1 of 4

Your domain

The model evaluates your agency and experience within a specific domain. What you enter here will contextualize the questions that follow.

What is your area of expertise?

Agency

Agency is defined as the combination of curiosity (the drive to question), discipline (the persistence to follow through), and cognitive engagement (the capacity for reasoning and imagination).

Curiosity — the drive to question

When AI generates a working solution in , what do you do next?

Accept it and move on if it works Scan for obvious issues before accepting Probe for weaknesses and explore alternative approaches Systematically challenge assumptions, test edge cases, and compare against your own reasoning

Discipline — the persistence to follow through

When AI output in contains a pattern or concept you don't fully understand, what is your pattern?

Move on — it works and that's what matters Make a mental note to revisit later Pause and research it before continuing Refuse to ship it until you can explain why it works

Cognitive engagement — the capacity for reasoning and imagination

Before you engage AI on a complex problem, what does your process look like?

Describe the problem to AI and work from its suggestion Give AI a rough direction and iterate from there Form your own approach first, then use AI to challenge and refine it Build a mental model with edge cases and constraints, then use AI to stress-test your reasoning

Experience

Experience is your level from junior through principal. Unlike agency, experience is earned through time — living through production incidents, watching systems evolve, and feeling the consequences of decisions.

Domain depth — knowledge

How would you describe your working knowledge of ?

I'm exploring it or just getting started I've shipped working solutions but still hit frequent unknowns I navigate confidently and can mentor others in this domain I define patterns and make architectural decisions that others follow

Production battle scars — lived experience

What does your production experience in look like?

I haven't owned production systems in this domain I've contributed to production systems with guidance I own and maintain production systems independently I've designed systems that scaled, failed, recovered, and evolved over years

Design authority — scope of responsibility

When a technical decision needs to be made in , what role do you play?

I follow decisions others make I participate in discussions but defer to more experienced colleagues I make technical decisions for my area of responsibility I set technical direction and make trade-offs that affect the broader system

Your result

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