"Programming jobs are going away"

Summary of Main Points

• The speaker discusses a hypothetical future where AI replaces programmers and questions what happens to everyone else if software jobs largely disappear.
• They argue that current AI can’t fully replace programmers, but if it did, the impact would ripple outward because programmers are often among the most cognitively capable and highly skilled people.
• In that scenario, displaced programmers would move into other areas—especially trades—leading to intense competition.
• The speaker suggests that many people currently in trades may not have the same “high-excellence” level of technical capability as programmers (e.g., kernel/assembly-level thinking), so they could struggle against newcomers with higher skill.
• They speculate society could become more stratified:
  • Top performers may adapt and find new roles.
  • Others (“coasting” or less highly skilled people) may face displacement and hardship.
• They mention potential outcomes such as Universal Basic Income (UBI), but express strong skepticism—framing UBI as increasing dependence on government and therefore reducing independence.
• They argue that automation has been increasing for decades, and that automation trends may eventually reduce meaningful work opportunities for many people.
• They criticize a culture of relentlessly increasing productivity (“faster and faster… more productive every day”) and suggest it isn’t good for happiness, health, or society.
• As a personal coping strategy, they recommend:
  • Enjoying life and one’s surroundings.
  • Seeking greater independence where possible (e.g., living more rurally with a workshop).
  • Working enough to support that lifestyle.

Presenters / Contributors

• Boomer Ranting in the shade (speaker)