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The AI wildfire is coming. it's going to be painful and healthy

(ceodinner.substack.com)
117 points LordAtlas | 1 comments | 07 Dec 25 16:43 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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8f2ab37a-ed6c ◴[07 Dec 25 19:03 UTC] No.46184133[source]▶
With little growth and hiring happening outside of firms betting the farm on AI—and getting the funding to stay alive and play the lottery—what is a random tech employee supposed to do here?

It seems like right now the most rational move to stay in the industry is to milk the AI wave as much as possible, learn all of the tools, get a big brand name on one's resume, and then land somewhere still-alive once the AI music stops? But ultimately if nothing outside of AI is growing, it's one big game of musical chairs and even that might not save you?

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karlgkk ◴[07 Dec 25 19:09 UTC] No.46184165[source]▶
That “rational move” has always been a good move, regardless of AI. This is a boom/bust industry, and the next boom will come in a few years. While we’re at it, if you’re making engineer money, you should be targeting retirement at 50. I’m not saying you have to do that, but it sure helps to have that option.
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delfinom ◴[07 Dec 25 20:21 UTC] No.46184783[source]▶
> if you’re making engineer money,

SV & big tech engineer money.

Majority of engineering fields do not make that kind of money to retire at 50. Comfortable compared to the rest of the country, sure.

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karlgkk ◴[07 Dec 25 20:35 UTC] No.46184901[source]▶
I think maybe that was implied, considering the topic of conversation and website we’re on.

That said if you’re making $250k+ a year and not on track to retire by 50, seriously please open a retirement calculator and figure out what you need to do to get there.

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1. throw234234234 ◴[07 Dec 25 22:24 UTC] No.46185882{4}[source]▶
Tax rates, cost of living differences, etc depending where you are in the world don't always make this a good salary.

Generally outside SV:

- If you are making $250+ it is at least middle management (not tech work) AND

- Only in zones where cost of living is eating this up (e.g. UK/Europe/Australia/etc can get to this equilvalent salary but costs for example for rent, food, tax, etc are much higher).

In most countries SWE is above average pay, but it isn't life changing and it still unfortunately has the boom/bust cycles.

I've met some very good engineers who have built some great large scale solutions who are on less than this salary often in non tech firms being outside of the SV area due to personal reasons (e.g. can't move due to family, too old to do the interview dance SWE has become these days, etc).