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Remote vs Onsite in the AI Era

5 min read

Eng Manager

AI makes async more viable. But culture and onboarding still favor some in-person.

Platform

Your work is async by nature. Remote fits. Document everything.

Tpm

Cross-functional work is harder remote. AI helps with async docs, summaries. Doesn't replace rapport.

Remote vs Onsite in the AI Era

TL;DR

  • AI improves async work: better docs, summaries, async code review. Remote gets easier.
  • But: companies are pulling back. "Return to office" is real. Hybrid is the compromise.
  • Your leverage depends on role, level, and company. Senior + specialized = more remote options.

The remote wave peaked 2022–2023. 2025–2026: partial pullback. AI changes the calculus but doesn't override company culture.

What AI Changes

Async gets better:

  • Meeting summaries. AI can transcribe and summarize. Fewer "what did we decide?" threads.
  • Code review. AI drafts comments. Human reviews. Faster cycles.
  • Documentation. AI helps. Less "wait for the doc" bottlenecks.
  • Onboarding. AI-assisted learning paths, Q&A bots. Remote onboarding improves.

What doesn't change:

  • Trust. Still built through interaction. Harder remote.
  • Ambiguity. Complex decisions often need real-time back-and-forth.
  • Culture. Water cooler, hallway conversations. AI doesn't replace that.

Current Trends (2026)

  • Hybrid dominates. 2–3 days in office. Common for tech.
  • Full remote exists. Startups, distributed-first companies. Fewer than 2023.
  • Fully onsite increasing. Especially for "critical" roles. Finance, some FAANG teams.
  • Location flexibility. "Work from anywhere" is rarer. Often: "same timezone" or "US only."

How to Navigate

  • If you want remote: Target distributed-first companies. Or negotiate at offer: "I'd need 2 days in office max."
  • If you're flexible: Hybrid gives you more options. Most roles are hybrid.
  • If you're early career: Onsite can help. Mentorship, visibility, learning by osmosis. Consider it an investment.
  • If you're senior: You have more leverage. Companies compromise for hard-to-fill roles.

The AI Angle on Remote

AI tools make remote more productive: better async communication, faster documentation, AI-assisted pairing. But they don't replace the trust-building that happens in person. If your company is pushing RTO, framing it as "we need collaboration" — AI won't win that argument. Your leverage is skills and alternatives, not tech.

2022–2023: Remote wave. 'Work from anywhere.' Full remote common. Companies competed on flexibility.

Click "AI era remote" to see the difference →

Quick Check

AI improves async work (summaries, docs, code review). What doesn't change about remote?

Do This Next

  1. Know your preference — Remote, hybrid, or onsite? Be honest.
  2. Filter job posts — Remote/hybrid filter on job boards. How many roles match?
  3. Ask early — "What's the remote policy for this role?" Don't wait until the offer to discover it's 5 days in office.