AI Makes Me Sad
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
A developer expresses sadness and hopelessness about AI's impact on software craftsmanship and startups.
The author, a Georgia Tech TA and developer, writes at 2 AM about feeling hopeless seeing AI developments on social media. Despite being positioned to benefit from AI (vibecoded projects on resume could land FAANG jobs), they mourn loss of craft, control, and creativity. They feel startups have been reduced to "AI startups" easily replicated by prompts. They critique AI-generated content as digital mold and fascist aesthetic. They hope for industry correction, looking forward to bubble bursting. They note peers use AI for homework and jobs with no weight or difficulty.
The author observes billions in AI spend has yielded no benefit for everyday app consumers. They want an industry that makes sense, contrasting with classmates who coast through using AI and dream of AI companies. They express uncertainty about future but anticipate some finality within their lifetime.
What commenters are saying
Two camps: those arguing current AI disruption is real and permanent, and those arguing the hype cycle will pass. Some say prompting is still a skill, citing technical expertise needed to steer Claude. Others counter that expertise is the training data itself. A top comment argues social media was always toxic, not uniquely so now. Another predicts software engineers will become product stewards and liability lightning rods within two years. Several note business moats are vanishing: if a customer can prompt Claude to replicate your product, you have no defensible position. But one commenter counters that most users lack the iterative skill to prompt effectively, citing the schlep of running a real business.