Is anyone instantly suspicious when they introduce themselves these days an "AI Developer"
Yes, just like "Data Engineer" for knowing how to use Tableau or doing OLAP queries.
Are you saying that true Data Engineers typically do more than just use Tableau or run OLAP queries, or do you see the title 'Data Engineer' itself as a bit of a red flag these days? I’m pretty early in my career and was leaning toward Data Engineering, but hearing stuff like this makes me wonder if going for SWE might be smarter.
For starters, Engineer only makes sense if the person actually holds an engineering degree, taken at an institution validated by the Engineering Order.
That's a legalism that isn't universal. Personally, I think that anyone who engages in engineering is logically an engineer. Maybe not a certified engineer, but an engineer nonetheless.