I can't be an AI pioneer

2026-03-24

Tags: [$journal ]

It took three years for me to confidently tell people that I am a software engineer. Now I’m looking for the entry level job such as software engineer intern or junior software engineer. Well, yes, many people got fired and haven’t been employed for months, even years. It’s sad. Companies don’t want to hire someone new to the field anymore, as if their employees have never been there. Even software engineer jobs are decreasing, think about other jobs. It sucks.

Oh, AI, our dear friend. And they’re replacing us—juniors—with AI agents for about 200 dollars a month, or maybe 20 dollars. As far as I know, the standards for entry level jobs weren’t that high back in those days. Lately, I read very interesting tweet. The specs written in the company’s internship JD are quite interesting, it seems they’re looking for someone exceptionally talented. I’m not sure but they are willing to pay VERY WELL for the interns, aren’t they?

I am already tired of competing with those geniuses and now with AI too. Some people get funded by building AI startups, tools, pioneering the AI field. Those AI pioneers create trends such as OpenClaw, OpenCode, and so on. I am falling behind. However, I have decided not to actively follow the trends. As I stated, I can’t be an AI pioneer. 1000x productivity programmer who runs multiple AI agents and makes n applications a day… I also can’t be that kinds of person either. I’m not supposed feel this way because AI layoffs are real and entry level job postings have decreased. Still, I can’t help it. Learning this and that to survive, oh my days, it is so tiring.

Through the art & electronics workshop I teach, I want to learn more about systems and embedded programming. I know it sounds like I’m moving backwards, right? The higher the programming world reaches, the lower I want to go. There are more. I love F/OSS work I’ve been doing, teaching, making things, drawing, writing… I can’t even count it all.

So, I can’t be that AI guy. I’m not trendy. I might not survive as a well-paid programmer in the future. But Whatever. I’m going to do what I love anyway… This is just how I’m built :>

p.s.

Ninajirachi sets are so good!!