Is AI’s Job Takeover Already Here? One Engineer’s $150K-to-DoorDash Nightmare

From six-figure tech jobs to living in an RV: How AI is reshaping careers faster than we imagined. Shawn K, a software engineer with 20 years of experience, never thought he’d be delivering Buffalo Wild Wings via DoorDash to survive. But after losing his $150K job to AI-driven layoffs, he’s become a cautionary tale of the workforce’s silent crisis. With over 800 job applications rejected and AI now conducting interviews, his story raises a chilling question: Is this the future for millions? Let’s dive in.

🌐 The AI Job Apocalypse Is Already Here: Here’s What’s Happening

• 800 applications, 10 interviews: Despite a computer science degree and two decades of experience, Shawn’s job hunt has been a “black hole” of AI screening tools and automated rejections.
• “The Great Displacement”: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicts AI will write 90% of code by September 2025—and all code within 12 months.
• 150,000+ tech layoffs in 2024: 2025 has already seen 50,000+ cuts, per Layoffs.fyi, as companies prioritize AI efficiency over human teams.
• From metaverse to trailer park: Shawn’s former metaverse-focused role collapsed as AI stole the spotlight—and his livelihood.

Why it’s accelerating: Companies aren’t using AI to amplify productivity but to slash costs. “They’re cutting 10 developers to keep one,” Shawn explains, rather than leveraging AI to “do 1,000x the work.”

✅ The Solution? Reinvent—But It’s Not That Simple

• Cyborg workers, not replacements: Shawn advocates for AI-human collaboration, where engineers use AI tools to boost output exponentially. Example: A 10-person team achieving 100x results.
• Retraining roadblocks: Certificates or CDL trucking licenses could help pivot careers—but Shawn can’t afford the upfront costs while DoorDashing.
• Policy vacuum: No U.S. safety nets or retraining programs specifically address AI-driven unemployment. “We’re overdue for real solutions,” he warns.

🚧 The Challenges: Why This Crisis Is Just Beginning

• ⚠️ Invisible filtering: “I’s like I’m filtered out before a human even sees my resume,” says Shawn, describing AI’s role in hiring.
• ⚠️ Economic domino effect: Once-stable tech salaries are vanishing, forcing engineers into gig work—a trend that could spread to other industries.
• ⚠️ Short-term thinking: Companies prioritize quarterly savings over long-term innovation, stifling AI’s potential as a creative partner.

🚀 Final Thoughts: Adapt or Collapse?

Shawn’s story isn’t just about AI—it’s about how we choose to use it. Success hinges on:

• ✅ Companies viewing AI as a collaborator, not a cost-cutting tool
• 📉 Governments addressing retraining and universal basic income
• 🚀 Workers embracing hybrid roles (AI oversight, creative strategy)

Yet as Shawn sells his belongings on eBay, one truth is clear: The “vague future” of AI job loss is already here. Will we act before it’s too late? What would you do if AI replaced your job tomorrow?

Let us know on X (Former Twitter)

Sources: Preston Fore. Software engineer lost his $150K-a-year job to AI—he’s been rejected from 800 jobs and forced to DoorDash and live in a trailer to make ends meet, 2025-05-14. https://www.yahoo.com/news/software-engineer-lost-150k-job-090000839.html