[michaelteter]

As a software engineer and solution provider, I do not feel threatened by this.

I do not fear that management will get tools like Mythos and then not need people like me. Most of the value I provide is in translating what the management/client _thinks_ they need into what is the real problem and solution.

That's not an insult to them, it's just pointing out that they see only their problem, and they imagine what would be the solution. They then ask for that solution. Quite often, what they want built isn't what they need. And I've seen so many problems, from so many domains and scenarios, that I can usually recognize the core need and propose (and build or direct building of) a solution which resolves that need AND has an eye toward the likely future needs.

Mythos may do an excellent job providing a high quality result based on what is asked of it. But the result will only be as good as the quality, clarity, and presentation of the request.

If I hire a home builder to build me a custom home, that builder is going to ask me a thousand questions - questions I had never even thought of. Mythos isn't going to ask all those questions - it's going to make the best choices it can without the consultant's level of interaction. And the buyer will get what they get. Sure, the buyer can then say, "oh, I don't want any hallways - just connected spaces." Then the house gets demolished and rebuilt to the new, clearer spec. Repeat, repeat repeat. Maybe eventually the buyer gets what they really want. More likely they give up before reaching that point, and they go and hire a real builder.

I'll sum it up like this: You can get great results with minimal effort if you don't really care too much about the details. But if you don't care much about the details, then your need probably wasn't very significant.

[redhale]

I will never stop being fascinated with takes like this. Maybe you're right. But people said very similar things over the last few years and many of those statements look unbelievably naive in retrospect.

Sure, AI can auto-complete the line, but it can't write full functions.

Sure, AI can write functions, but it can't complete full features.

Sure, AI can write full features, but it can't build full applications.

Sure, AI can write full applications, but it can't build them in the right way / ask the right questions / write beautiful maintainable code / do what _I_ do..

Time will tell.

[ChrisLTD]

Even the early versions of AI autocomplete tools like Tabnine and the original Copilot could autocomplete entire functions, so I think you might be strawmanning a bit.

[zelphirkalt]

I currently see the problem as follows: The knowledge worker like you sees the need for people like themselves to still be hired, and can reasonably argue for it. However, the management dudes and investors do not understand it, and it is difficult to make them understand, when their (short to medium term) profits depend on not understanding it. So whether you feel threatened or not, is just a matter of you feeling bad or not, but doesn't really matter, when it comes to finding a job.

[michaelteter]

You are exactly right. Regardless of whether AI is better than a human or not is irrelevant if the bad, unqualified corporate leaders are making rash silver bullet decisions that cost workers jobs.

The problem is much broader though - consolidation of wealth and power have enabled, frankly, idiots to be able to control how the world works - from politics to business. Greed and stupidity is eating the world.

I don't see any solution. This is like a disease that will either eventually kill the body or take a long time to heal, leaving deep scars and forever changing humanity.

Maybe War Games was right - the only way to win is not to play. Therefore, find something you love (even if it doesn't pay well), and do that.

(I spent two years looking for a tech job. My 30 years of broad and meaningful experience is apparently not interesting to at least the 200 companies I applied to. So now I'm a teacher, and I'm quite happy.)

[zelphirkalt]

Written like you read my mind, honestly.

I have a mere 10y of experience, but also already looking for 1 year and also considering maybe I should become a teacher. Dealing with unruly children might be nerve wracking, and the tech level will be very basic, but I have always enjoyed enabling others to understand things and see them grow and having done my part in that. Also solid well taught foundations are very important. Currently, my only obstacle is, that it is not so easy to become a teacher where I live. Certain requirements kind of like certifications, that you can't just easily get, but need to invest a lot of time into.

Good to read of someone, who went that way. How did you manage the transition?

[michaelteter]

I started teaching 1-on-1 on Preply (computer science, programming, and even career guidance). I work with students from age 8 to 40. I've given over 200 hours of teaching there.

But recently I got my TEFL certification. Now I teach English in Bangkok. My students are high school, and they are fantastic people. Honestly I'm happier than I would have imagined. I only wish I had more time with each student, because they're all great in one way or another. To be more transparent, my school is one where students have to be top performers and compete to get in. So I'm not dealing with students who were like me when I was young ;).

I earn a fraction of what I earned in tech in the past, but it's enough to live with a modest buffer - and still actually enjoy life. I wish I had done this long ago.

Before I took this job, I spent a week teaching "computing" to grades 1-6. For various reason that wasn't a good situation and I left, but even those kids were pretty great. It's humbling to see what some motivated 6 year olds are capable of creating.