AI replaced a software engineer with 20 years of experience in the tech industry
Are you next?
Written by Susan Fourtané, Science and Technology Journalist
The promise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) was that it was designed to help humans with the monotonous, repetitive jobs so they could focus on more important tasks and also have more free time. AI was going to transform the future of work in a positive way.
The use of Artificial Intelligence was going to see companies creating new jobs that didn’t exist yet and these jobs were going to require more unique human skills such as creativity and critical thinking. Human jobs were going to require the use of soft skills.
That's the story we were told once and again and again. That’s the story I reported upon many times over the past 18 years. Yes, I have seen the evolution of this technology for almost two decades, indeed. And yes, I have been suffering the advances of AI in journalism and writing as well.
We have seen the most dramatic change during the last couple of years. The change was unexpected and it’s moving fast, faster than we thought it would.
There are now even more growing concerns about Artificial Intelligence (AI) replacing software engineers, even those with decades/life long experience. This is no longer a prediction. This is the reality we are living today. There are multiple reports telling how seasoned professionals have lost their jobs due to AI advancements.
Today, I read something that adds to a problem that no one can seem to see. Without a plan, AI is replacing humans in almost every industry I can think of, leaving people unemployed and with not too much to expect from the future.
The unthinkable happened: AI just replaced a software engineer with 20 years of experience in the technology industry.
His job was not changed or upgraded, as the conversation was several years ago when I interviewed several software engineers and futurists about the future of AI. What happened? Where is the plan for the Universal Basic Income that was supposed to be in place and ready for when people would start to lose their jobs?
I recently wrote about how Duolingo, an education software company, replaced its contract writers and translators with AI. They want more content faster. This is not the only company choosing an AI-first strategy. You can read about it here below:
We are no longer talking about automating monotonous tasks. We are talking about increasingly replacing humans, including software engineers.
Shawn K, a 42-year-old computer science graduate who is a creative full stack engineer specialising in AI, VR (Virtual Reality), and web technologies told Fortune in an interview that out of 800 job applications he got only 10 interviews. That was after his former boss outsourced his job to AI.
Most of his applications were filtered out by AI before a human got to see his application. Before losing his job and income, Shawn was well established in the industry, earning $150,000 a year, building technologies such as the Metaverse.
The once successful software engineer is now living in a small RV trailer in upstate New York, hustling to make ends meet, delivering food orders, and selling his old electronics and other stuff on eBay for a few hundred dollars a month.
Shawn’s story is not the only one. Here below is Shawn telling everyone whose job and/or job search has been impacted by AI to share their stories.
The old promise that AI was going to revolutionise work was true. Although it was not what it turned out to be. AI technology is not yet ready to go without humans. It’s been reported that 59 per cent of developers experience consistent deployment errors when using the help of AI to code.
Despite AI being able to handle some routine coding tasks, there are complex problem-solving, architectural design, and decision-making that require human expertise.
The tech labour market is changing; but it’s not the only one. AI is increasingly making humans obsolete. And there is no plan. There is no clear regulation. There are no clear answers as to how we will survive when a larger number of humans will lose their jobs to AI.
About the Creator
Susan Fourtané
Susan Fourtané is a Science and Technology Journalist, a professional writer with over 18 years experience writing for global media and industry publications. She's a member of the ABSW, WFSJ, Society of Authors, and London Press Club.
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Comments (7)
Very well put. And a good reminder to get rid of my Duolingo subscription 😡
Well said, Susan. I am not a fan of AI, and I see even worse things to come in he future because of it. I will slowly replace everything. Then what does everyone do? No job, no money. Scary thoughts.
They should have implemented the universal basic income first, before giving human jobs to AI. That's so terrible of them not to do so
Well written article. With a good amount of research behind it. But, and you know me there is always that but, this is only one side of the entire equation. AI yes has cut into some jobs out there but not completely replaced jobs such as journalism or software development, but yes AI has intervened in some of these areas to a degree. I kind of look at this evolution in the way that at one point in time coal mining jobs in theUnited States were plentiful as there was a great need for coal miners in order to keep sectors of our energy grids effective. As time has progressed we have developed and discovered better and safer energy sources. So of course coal mining jobs are decreasing while jobs in new energy sectors are increasing. The same thing is happening with AI. Jobs in some sectors such as journalism and maybe software development are decreasing to a degree while jobs in the AI technology sector are increasing and they are good paying jobs. The following is a copy and paste as it’s too much information for me to try to type in on my own words. *** AI has created a wide range of new jobs, particularly in fields related to data science, machine learning, robotics, and AI development. Some notable examples include machine learning engineers, data scientists, AI product managers, and AI ethics specialists. Here's a more detailed breakdown: 1. AI Development and Engineering: Machine Learning Engineers: Design, build, and maintain AI systems and machine learning models. Data Scientists: Analyze and interpret large datasets to extract insights and inform decision-making. Data Engineers: Build and maintain the infrastructure for collecting, storing, and processing data. AI Engineers: Develop AI applications and systems that help organizations become more efficient. Robotics Engineers: Design, build, and maintain robots for various industries. Software Engineers: Develop the software that powers AI systems and applications. 2. AI-Related Roles: AI Product Managers: Oversee the development and deployment of AI products. AI Ethics Specialists: Ensure that AI systems are fair, transparent, and aligned with human values. AI Research Scientists: Conduct research to develop new AI algorithms and techniques. AI Literacy Trainers: Educate individuals on the fundamentals of AI and its applications. Prompt Engineers: Optimize prompts for AI chatbots and other AI-powered systems. 3. Emerging AI-Related Roles: AI-Human Interaction Designers: Design the way humans interact with AI systems. AI Trainers: Train and evaluate AI systems. AI Auditors: Audit the performance and reliability of AI systems. Virtual Store Sherpas: Guide customers through virtual shopping experiences. AI Content Creators: Use AI tools to generate content. Man-Machine Teaming Managers: Manage the coordination of human and robotic teams. AI Business Development Managers: Identify and cultivate opportunities for AI technology in various industries. Data Annotators: Label and categorize data to train AI models. Advisory AI Consultants: Provide expert guidance to businesses on using AI. AI-Assisted Healthcare Technicians: Support healthcare professionals in using AI-powered tools. Autonomous Vehicle Technicians: Maintain and repair self-driving vehicles *** So, if I were a college age student I would be getting into the field of AI technology as right now that’s where the jobs and the money are.
The thing is, if no one is earning money, who will buy products? I am no Luddite, but technology needs to be better controlled, and AI should be a tool, not an employee replacement. Excellent article.
This really made me pause. It's powerful, honest, and unsettling—like a quiet wake-up call. Have you felt the shift too?
The promise of AI helping humanity has shifted into a reality where many are being left behind, and fast. We urgently need a collective plan, not just for innovation, but for people.