The 'AI is replacing engineers' narrative is mostly bullshit, and I'm tired of pretending otherwise (opens in new tab)

I'm going to make a claim that's going to upset some people, including some people I respect: most of the "AI-driven layoff" narrative in 2026 is bullshit, and we're letting CEOs use it as cover for a different story. I want to be careful about what I am and am not saying. AI is real. It is changing work. It will continue to change work. None of that is in dispute. What I'm saying is narrower: the causal chain being sold in press releases — "AI made us productive, so we don't need these peopl...