AI is fueling 'off-the-charts' anxiety among tech workers, says Menlo Ventures partner (www.businessinsider.com)

The rapid advancements in AI technology are driving significant anxiety among tech workers, according to Deedy Das, a partner at Menlo Ventures. In his recent observations, Das highlighted concerns that software engineers and product managers are questioning the long-term viability of their careers amid a wave of automation, with daily tasks increasingly performed by AI tools. This heightened anxiety reflects deeper existential questions about purpose and career stability in a landscape where traditional roles may be rendered obsolete. Das's comments resonate particularly within the context of significant upheaval in the industry, as workers grapple with the implications of AI on job security, financial stability, and personal identity. With intense competition and uncertainties surrounding startup valuations—exemplified by the decline in equity worth of once-promising companies like Airtable and Miro—tech professionals are not just worried about career prospects but also about broader life anxieties related to relationships, housing, and future family planning. This wave of apprehension seems especially pronounced in the Bay Area, revealing a collective struggle for understanding one's role and value in a rapidly evolving digital world.