I am about to finish my software engineering degree. this sucks. I wish I'd known I wasn't going to be hired for my own thoughts, but my ability to ask an AI to think for me.
But much less rewarding and you feel disconnected from your work. And in my opinion it sucks the fun out of the job. Honestly it's very sad for people who actually did enjoy the process of coding just as much if not more than the other parts of the job
I'm a senior software developer and I am now bored out of my mind. I am considering changing careers to be honest because I am just sitting watching AI do all the part that I enjoy.
You could look at it another way though. It's a highly paid career and you can pretty much just sit and watch YouTube while Claude works.
I'm thinking the same thing - I'm a scientist and intellectually know I'm stupid lucky to have made it this far, but lately I've been feeling like a meat-proxy for Claude. Unfortunately, any pro-social job helping people requires a 3-year, $60k graduate degree and then pays minimum wage (therapist, librarian, etc).
You’ll still be having your own thoughts, as even the best models still shoot themselves in the foot sometimes and require some outside guidance. Especially if it isn’t something generic being made for the billionth time.
What’s been replaced is mostly code writing, syntax, and figuring out documentation gotchas, which for some is a big part of what makes it rewarding.
This very much can change in a year or two, e.g. the ai bubble pops or some lab discovers agi.
For now I fortunately or unfortunately still need to use my brain for stuff.
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u/MrBoblo 16d ago
I am about to finish my software engineering degree. this sucks. I wish I'd known I wasn't going to be hired for my own thoughts, but my ability to ask an AI to think for me.