K, a seasoned software engineer, once earned a comfortable $150,000 salary. However, the rise of artificial intelligence has drastically changed his life. K lost his job to AI last year and has since struggled to find stable employment in the tech industry.
Despite his extensive experience and computer science degree, K has applied to over 800 jobs with little success. He has landed fewer than ten interviews, many of which were conducted by AI. This left him feeling “invisible” and “filtered out before a human is even in the chain.”
K’s last job involved working in an area of tech that has now been overshadowed by AI advancements like ChatGPT.
These changes have forced him to live in a small RV trailer in central New York. To make ends meet, he delivers food for DoorDash and sells household items online, barely scraping together a few hundred dollars. Returning to school for a tech certificate or obtaining a CDL trucking license proved financially unfeasible for K.
Adapting to AI-driven job loss
His story serves as a warning of what many in the tech field could soon face. In 2024, over 150,000 tech workers lost their jobs, and in 2025, this number has already surpassed 50,000.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicted earlier this year that AI would be writing 90% of the code by September, potentially leading to significant job displacement. Despite his prolonged unemployment, K remains hopeful and not resentful towards AI. He considers himself an “AI maximalist” and believes in its potential.
However, he criticizes companies for using AI merely as a cost-saving measure rather than leveraging it to enhance their workforce. “If AI can do a better job, I won’t resent it for replacing me,” K says. “What’s frustrating is that companies use AI to cut down on talent instead of expanding what a team can achieve.”
K’s story highlights the need for a larger conversation about the future of work in an AI-dominated landscape.
Society must find ways to adapt and create meaningful solutions to the displacement caused by AI.
Deanna Ritchie is a managing editor at DevX. She has a degree in English Literature. She has written 2000+ articles on getting out of debt and mastering your finances. She has edited over 60,000 articles in her life. She has a passion for helping writers inspire others through their words. Deanna has also been an editor at Entrepreneur Magazine and ReadWrite.
