Do I belong in tech anymore?
ky.fyi
April 24, 2026
9 min read
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
56/100
Summary
A design engineer recently left their job despite good pay, health insurance, remote work, and positive coworker relationships. They were responsible for building components, maintaining the design system, and improving product quality, successfully doubling surface coverage and addressing bugs.
Key Takeaways
- The author quit their job as a design engineer despite high job satisfaction metrics, feeling increasingly miserable and questioning the value of their work.
- The author experienced a psychic toll from the pervasive use of AI tools in the workplace, leading to concerns about the quality of work and the lack of critical engagement with AI-generated outputs.
- Scenarios described include coworkers using AI tools without consent, reliance on AI for code reviews, and the rapid generation of documents and code without adequate review, contributing to a sense of disconnection and frustration.
- The author expressed uncertainty about returning to full-time tech work, reflecting a broader concern about the impact of AI on workplace dynamics and individual roles.
Community Sentiment
Positives
- AI tools are enhancing productivity, allowing developers to accomplish more than before, which can lead to better solutions for complex problems.
- The discussion around AI's impact on job roles highlights the potential for AI to serve as a valuable tool rather than a replacement, emphasizing the importance of problem-solving skills.
Concerns
- There is a growing fear that the rise of AI, particularly AGI, could diminish job opportunities and financial stability for many in the tech industry.
- The perception that organizations prioritize the appearance of work over actual results raises concerns about the long-term impact of AI on workforce dynamics and job security.
- The reliance on AI tools may lead to a decline in critical thinking and productivity, as some individuals seem willing to hand over their decision-making to LLMs.
