"For a long time, the tech industry liked to think of itself as a meritocracy: it rewarded qualities like intelligence, competence, and expertise. But all that barely matters anymore. This new generation is, above all, desperate to avoid becoming part of the permanent underclass that they now expect AI to produce."
"While it may one day cure cancer or enslave humanity, AI has so far mostly gifted us chatbots, flawed data management tools, and a proliferation of companies fueled by cheap viral hype rather than actual workable services. Much of the conversation regarding AI to date has concerned its potential for unleashing cosmic dangers or its nebulous promises of global salvation."
Current AI discourse oscillates between apocalyptic warnings and utopian promises, yet practical applications remain underwhelming. Young tech industry participants have created cynical products designed to help users cheat job interviews or deceive dates rather than solve meaningful problems. The industry has delivered chatbots, flawed data management tools, and venture-backed companies sustained by viral marketing rather than functional services. A generational shift has occurred within tech: the industry once prided itself as a meritocracy rewarding intelligence and expertise, but these qualities now barely matter. Today's tech workers are primarily motivated by fear of becoming part of an AI-generated permanent underclass, fundamentally reshaping their priorities and values.
#ai-industry-reality #tech-worker-anxiety #meritocracy-decline #economic-displacement #hype-driven-products
Read at Harper's Magazine
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