When AI writes all the code, programmers lose the sense of mattering
ForgotMyParachute · reddit · 2026-11-06
A long Reddit essay argues AI erodes two basic psychological needs: feeling useful to others and healthy social comparison. Programmers who moved from 'AI assists' to 'AI does everything, I copy-paste' report feeling depressed despite keeping jobs—consistent with research that partial AI use increases enjoyment while full delegation decreases it. The author warns every profession will follow, since love, ideas, and management are all brain work, and suggests some domains may need to ban AI to artificially preserve the sense of being needed.
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