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Comparison of different methods to keep a laptop awake
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AI coders keep laptops half-open to avoid losing work - MSN
Unusual developer habit: Some AI coders carry laptops slightly open in public to keep AI agents running without stopping their progress. Why it happens: Closing or sleeping laptops can halt long ...
Good news, AI coders: You can keep your laptop running while closed
By Henry Chandonnet You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email. AI coders are walking around with slightly open laptops to keep their AI agents running. There are other solutions. David Griffiths/Getty Images/iStockphoto 2026-05-13T09:15:02.470Z Business Insider readers sounded off about the latest AI trend: techies walking around with slightly open laptops. Many said there are better ways to keep AI agents running, like changing settings or using a terminal command or outside apps. In response, some open-laptop-walkers said these solutions had too much "friction" — or weren't obvious in the first place. Yes, there are techies walking around with their laptops cracked open. And yes, there may also be a better way. Business Insider interviewed eight AI coders who keep their laptops ajar while on the move, even in public, so their agents can continue running.The reader response was loud.Some called it relatable; others warned against mixing code and life. Many, many commenters pointed out that there are plenty of ways to keep the laptop awake, even if the lid is firmly shut."AI is killing us if we don't know you can keep the laptop running while closed," one commenter wrote. Here are some of people's suggested methods and workarounds:Caffeinate: Some referenced the terminal command "caffeinate," which is designed to keep a MacBook from entering sleep mode while, say, giving a long presentation. This solution might be trickier for non-technical users, though. It could also drain your battery and require further terminal commands to get it to reliably work while the laptop lid is closed.Clamshell Mode: If you plug your laptop into an external monitor, this setting lets you close the screen without it going to sleep. The only issue, of course, is that your computer needs to sense a connected device. For those on the move, ex-OpenAI staffer Will DePue half-jokingly recommended a dummy USB-C plug. "It's nice to have physical control of whether your laptop is on!" he wrote.Changing your sleep settings: In Mac's System Settings, users can adjust their sleep preferences. Ticking "prevent automatic sleeping on power adapter when the display is off" may do the trick, but requires being plugged into a power source.Amphetamine: There's a handful of third-party software options that promise to keep your Mac running while shut. The most popular is likely Amphetamine, a keep-awake app for macOS.There are a host...
AI coders carry half-open laptops to keep agents running
Business Insider reports that some developers are walking through airports, offices, and ice rinks with their laptops left slightly open so background AI agents can keep running. The article profiles users including **Geoff Chan**, identified as a 39-year-old head of product at **Raven.AI**, who says he leaves his laptop ajar during his daughters' skating practices to avoid interrupting ...
AI coders are carrying half-open laptops through airports, offices, and ...
AI AI coders are carrying half-open laptops through airports, offices, and ice rinks By Amygdalin Lover May 12, 2026 Geoff Chan keeps his laptop open after his daughters' skating practices. Geoff Chan sees the parents staring at him. The 39-year-old head of product at Raven.AI is a Claude Code and OpenAI Codex power user.
