> How many developers want to have usage analytics of their editors helping companies build functionality that aspires to replace them? This is silly.

Honestly, too many. Software engineers can be really, really dumb. I think it has something to do with assuming they're really smart.

But even unwilling developers may be forced to participate (see the recent Shopify CEO email), despite knowing full well what's going on. I mean, tons of people have already had to go through the humiliation of training their offshore replacements before getting laid off, and that's a much more in-your-face situation.

Developers know that AI will replace some of their coworkers. But only the "bad" ones who can't code as well as them. AI will learn from all of their good code and be used to generate similar code that's better than the bad devs but not as good as theirs. The problem is that every developer thinks that the coding bar is going to be just barely below their skill level.

The frustrating part is that this is another area where the realities of capitalism seem misaligned with anyone's well-being. Nobody wants to be out of a job, but doing the opposite of the Shopify CEO's strategy, like severely restricting AI usage, looks like a great way to ensure your competitors catch up with you and eat your lunch faster. I don't see any answers, just different ways to destroy ourselves.

> Honestly, too many. Software engineers can be really, really dumb. I think it has something to do with assuming they're really smart.

Maybe I am one of the stupid ones but I don't get you people.

This is going to happen whether you want it or not. The data is already out there. Our choice is either learn to use the tool so that we could have that in our arsenal for the future; or grumble in the corner that devs are digging their own graves and cry ourselves to sleep. I'd consider the latter to be stupid.

If you had issues with machines replacing your hands in the industrial age, you had a choice of learning how to operate the machines, I consider this to be a parallel.

They're probably just short-sighted - take the easy win ("get more done in less time") now and worry about the future later.

> Honestly, too many. Software engineers can be really, really dumb. I think it has something to do with assuming they're really smart.

I've found the enthusiasm towards software that ostensibly aims to replace their skillset utterly bizarre.