I was a 10x engineer. Now I'm useless.
In a Nutshell
AI has eroded the speaker's coding skills, fostering dependency and "AI psychosis" where manual coding feels pointless compared to instant LLM outputs, leading to soulless "hot dog" products without passion or emotional attachment. Vibe coding via un-reviewed AI-generated code works (e.g., deploying a functional app on shape.work with ChatGPT 5.4 and AWS CLI), but destroys identity, growth, and artisanal software craft. Recovery demands cold-turkey deletion of AI tools to rebuild hand-coding ability, amid job market uncertainty and debates over adapting versus rejecting LLMs.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
AI has completely oneshotted my ability to code. Many joke about AI psychosis affecting others, but I've realized I have it. My brain is fried by the easy button from LLM companies: press a button for instant results. Now, when trying to code by hand, my brain says, "Why code by hand when you can press a button for similar results?"
I'm at the mercy of AI companies to build models for my software product. Problems: responsible developers review code, but reviewing AI code is impossible. AIs move at 1000 mph while humans read at 30 mph. Can we ship without reviewing? Recent videos explore this to ship products. OpenClaw proves it: Peter Steinberger never looked at the huge, monstrous code, showing what’s possible if you don’t care about the code.
Vibe coding is like evolution with natural selection: it tries random things, keeps what passes tests, building an incomprehensible DNA codebase that made us. If evolution can do that without understanding, an LLM—better than random—with tests should work too. "If it’s good enough to make me, it’s good enough to make my damn to-do app."
Yesterday, ChatGPT 5.4 released. Tested hypothesis: app on localhost needs deployment for downloads and signups. Gave CodeX 5.4 (likely ChatGPT 5.4) access to AWS CLI, GitHub API for pipelines, commits. Prompt: deploy without reviewing code. It worked—go to shape.work, hit download, everything functions.
Problem: no idea who I am in this process. Early software is intimate between provider and users—artisanal, handcrafted, tight feedback. But this lacks emotional attachment. Didn’t earn it, suffer for it. Created a hot dog: presumably food in synthetic wrapper, fits sandwich, tastes like calories, transaction complete. But I can’t sell it—I only work on passionate projects. No amount of money motivates without passion.
Craftspeople, developers, artists change through struggle: sleep uncertain, wake with solutions, brain expands. That’s gone—no suffering, growth, or becoming better. Self-taught developers launched businesses by doing projects. Now we make hot dogs, no emotional bond to output.
Everyone in liminal waiting: WWII between countries/governments/AI labs, AI job threats, distractions like McDonald’s sandwiches, Shape store. Mass psychosis. Holding breath for AI labs to determine job safety. Two camps: one says adapt with tools or get left behind; other says LLMs are idiotic statistical machines—using them leaves you behind. I’m in the second after oneshotting my brain.
To recover: delete CodeX, uninstall, cancel subscription. Won’t fully, as AI helps some tasks. Tried hard stuff by hand, AI for mundane—but after hard day, AI oneshots wiring in 10 minutes, making hand-coding seem pointless. It’s a drug, addictive, no weaning off. Must go cold turkey—no middle ground like scheduled use.
Pre-AI, engineers took 1-year sabbaticals (e.g., woodworking), returned to higher-paying jobs—basis for cockiness. Non-developers hate developers, love AI takeover. Now uncertain: interview processes, impressing interviewers, resume value? "I could code JavaScript at 3 miles an hour"—what value? Doesn’t know what being an engineer means anymore. Psychosis. May delete tools, become anti-AI to regain care for software art.
Can’t sell soulless junk despite functionality. Unlike hiring passionate employees, can’t hire passion LLM. Thought ethical issue with vibe coding, but even suspending ethics, product unsellable.
Only option: write by hand, but lost skill—shipping takes years. LLMs do it in a day via devil’s bargain. We change ourselves to accept it. Unwilling now—not savvy businessman indifferent to product.
Day one recognizing need to delete ChatGPT. Asks: Am I alone? Employee/job seeker feelings—disconnected or more fun? Ways to make it work?
"carry_over": ""
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