Why I QUIT Coding (as an ex-Google programmer). ChatGPT won't save us.

The video discusses the declining state of the programming field, with the speaker, an ex-Google programmer, announcing their decision to quit coding. They argue that the golden era of software engineering is over, and that the profession is likely to become less lucrative and prestigious, comparing it to other careers like electricians or construction workers. The speaker criticizes the lack of new APIs from major platforms, which they believe has led to a stagnation in the industry. They also express skepticism about the potential of AI, particularly ChatGPT, to revitalize the field, suggesting it's more of a tool than a revolutionary platform. Instead, they propose that new opportunities may lie in emerging areas such as long-form audio content, AI art creation, and social media operating systems. The speaker advises young people to look for opportunities at the forefront of technology and to consider careers in content creation or other growing fields.

Takeaways

• 💻 The speaker, a former Google programmer, is quitting coding due to the declining state of the programming field.
• 🚀 The speaker believes that Chat GPT won't save the programming field and won't make everyone millionaires.
• 📉 The speaker suggests that the demand for programmers is decreasing, similar to how other careers like architects and photographers have faded.
• 🎓 The speaker criticizes the value of a college degree, stating that it's become oversaturated and mostly worthless.
• 🤖 The speaker argues that the success of programmers was due to APIs and app stores, not just coding skills.
• 🏛 The speaker compares the future of programmers to that of electricians or civil engineers, valuable but not highly paid.
• 📈 The speaker discusses the lack of new APIs from platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, which limits opportunities for developers.
• 🧵 The speaker notes that the tech industry has been stalling, with no new major app successes in recent years.
• 🕹️ The speaker mentions that VR and web 3.0 were expected to be the next big platforms but have not taken off as expected.
• 📈 The speaker believes that there will be growth in fields related to AI and content creation, rather than traditional programming.
• 🌐 The speaker suggests that the future lies in social media operating systems and content creation, rather than standalone apps or websites.

Q & A

Why did the speaker decide to quit coding?

The speaker decided to quit coding because they believe the field of programming has been dying for a long time, and they see no future in it, especially with the rise of AI and the saturation of the market.

What is the speaker's opinion on the future of programming careers?

The speaker thinks that programming careers will become less prestigious and more like other technical jobs such as electricians or construction workers, with less pay and less glamour.

Why did the popularity of being a nerd or a programmer rise in the past?

The rise in popularity was largely due to the internet revolution, which made tech entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates household names, and created a perception that being a programmer was a cool and lucrative career.

What has changed in the tech industry that the speaker points out?

The speaker points out that platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have stopped releasing public open APIs, which were previously used to create apps and gain access to user bases, leading to a decline in new opportunities for developers.

What does the speaker believe is the reason behind the wealth of some developers in the past?

The speaker believes that it was not coding itself that made developers rich, but the apps, APIs, and app stores that provided access to large user bases and data, which were exploited for profit.

What is the speaker's view on the potential of Chat GPT and AI?

The speaker is skeptical about Chat GPT and AI, suggesting that they might not live up to the hype and that they are more about pattern recognition than true intelligence. They also doubt whether they will make people rich, as happened with the app gold rush.

What new platform does the speaker mention as having potential?

The speaker mentions wireless earbuds, like AirPods, as a new platform that has enabled a new way of living and a new media format for long-form audio content.

What does the speaker suggest as an alternative career path for those interested in tech?

The speaker suggests careers such as AI artist, AI content creator, game engine content creator, Roblox game creator, and citizen journalist as alternative paths with potential growth.

What is the speaker's opinion on the current state of social media?

The speaker views social media as a new operating system that has largely replaced the need for apps and websites. They suggest that the focus should be on creating content for this 'social media OS' rather than developing new apps or websites.

Why does the speaker believe that the traditional model of apps and websites is outdated?

The speaker believes that the traditional model is outdated because people no longer visit or need individual apps and websites as much. Instead, they engage with content that goes viral on the social media platform, which acts as a central hub.

What advice does the speaker give to young people and college students regarding their career choices?

The speaker advises young people and college students to look forward and not backwards, to learn how to build for the world's most popular operating system (social media), and to consider content creation as a skill that can act as a storefront for their business.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 The Decline of Programming and the Future of Software Engineering

The speaker expresses their decision to quit coding, citing the long-term decline of the programming field. They reflect on their career at top tech companies and the changing landscape of software engineering. They draw parallels with other professions that have lost prominence over time, such as architecture and photography, and suggest that the value of a college degree has diminished. The paragraph discusses the historical celebration of nerds and the potential for this trend to reverse, questioning the enduring success of individuals who were not popular in school. It also touches on the lack of new API releases from major platforms, which has stifled opportunities for developers to create apps and gain access to user bases, leading to a decrease in the 'gold rush' of app development seen in the past.

05:01

🤖 The Impact of AI and Machine Learning on Careers and Opportunities

The speaker discusses the rise of AI and machine learning, noting that few individuals have actually become wealthy from these technologies. They argue that only a handful of large tech companies have benefited due to their access to data and resources. The paragraph also addresses the debate within the AI community about whether AI like chat GPT is truly intelligent or merely pattern recognition. The speaker then shifts to discuss the emergence of new platforms and technologies, such as wireless earbuds, which have created new media formats and opportunities for content creation. They also talk about the social media operating system and the need for a new approach to online business and digital marketing. The paragraph concludes with a commentary on the challenges faced by young people, the saturation of the job market for programmers, and the potential for new careers to emerge as technology continues to evolve.

10:02

🎓 The Shift from Traditional Coding to Emerging Tech-Careers

The speaker predicts a shift away from traditional software engineering roles towards new tech-related careers. They suggest that the use of AI tools will lead to the creation of new roles such as AI artists, AI content creators, and game engine content creators. They also mention the potential of platforms like Roblox and the rise of citizen journalism on social media platforms like Twitter. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of being at the forefront of technology and adapting to new trends. The speaker advises against clinging to outdated methods and encourages looking forward for opportunities. They conclude by acknowledging the difficulty of the content creation field and the broader challenges of a changing job market, inviting viewers to share their thoughts and experiences.

Keywords

💡Software Engineering

Software engineering is a field that involves the development and maintenance of software applications. In the video, the speaker discusses the decline of the field, comparing it to other professions that have lost their appeal over time, such as architecture and photography. The speaker's experience in top tech companies like Facebook and Google highlights the once prestigious nature of software engineering, which is now being questioned due to market saturation and changing technological landscapes.

💡Chat GPT

Chat GPT, mentioned in the video, refers to a type of AI technology that is capable of generating human-like text based on given prompts. The speaker is skeptical about its potential to revolutionize the tech industry or create wealth for individuals, contrasting it with the impact of app stores and APIs which historically provided access to vast user bases and were instrumental in making some developers rich.

💡APIs

API stands for Application Programming Interface, which is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. The video discusses how the closure of APIs by major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram has limited developers' ability to create apps that tap into these platforms' user bases, which was a significant factor in the past success of many software developers.

💡App Gold Rush

The term 'App Gold Rush' refers to the period in the late 2000s and early 2010s when developers could rapidly gain wealth and success by creating popular apps that went viral, often due to the access provided by app stores and APIs. The video suggests that this era is over, with the speaker noting the lack of recent viral apps and the challenges in launching successful new apps or websites.

💡Web 3.0

Web 3.0, also known as the decentralized web, is a concept that involves a shift towards more user-centric internet services, often leveraging blockchain technology. In the video, the speaker mentions Web 3.0 as a potential new platform for app development but notes that it has been facing regulatory hurdles and has not yet taken off as expected.

💡Social Media Operating System

The speaker uses the term 'Social Media Operating System' to describe the current state of digital interaction, where social media platforms function like an operating system that dominates user engagement. Content on these platforms becomes the new 'app', and the speaker suggests that the focus should be on creating content that can go viral on these platforms rather than developing standalone apps or websites.

💡AirPods

AirPods are wireless earbuds developed by Apple. The video discusses how the advent of wireless earbuds like AirPods has given rise to a new form of media consumption, particularly long-form audio content. This shift has created opportunities for new types of content creators who can leverage this technology to reach audiences in different ways.

💡Content Creation

Content creation refers to the process of generating various forms of content, such as articles, videos, audio, and more, for online distribution. The speaker emphasizes that content creation, particularly for social media platforms, is a growing field with opportunities for those who can create engaging and shareable content that resonates with audiences.

💡Citizen Journalist

A citizen journalist is an ordinary person who, unlike a professional journalist, reports news and shares information, especially via social media. The video mentions the rise of citizen journalism, especially on platforms like Twitter, as a new career path where individuals can report news and create content without the need for traditional journalistic credentials.

💡Nerds and Geeks

The terms 'nerds' and 'geeks' are often used to describe individuals who are highly knowledgeable or enthusiastic about specific subjects, typically related to technology or academics. The video reflects on the temporary cultural shift that celebrated nerds and geeks, largely due to the success of tech entrepreneurs, but questions whether this trend will continue in the future.

💡Career Shift

A career shift refers to a change in one's professional occupation or industry. The video discusses the idea that software engineering may no longer be as lucrative or prestigious as it once was, suggesting that individuals may need to consider career shifts into areas such as content creation, AI tool specialization, or other emerging fields that offer more opportunities.

Highlights

The field of programming has been dying for a long time, and the speaker is quitting coding.

The speaker has worked at top-tier tech companies like Facebook and Google, achieving the rank of Staff Software Engineer.

Chat GPT is not going to make everyone millionaires, contrary to popular belief.

Careers such as architects and photographers have lost their appeal over the years, similarly to programmers.

Having a college degree is becoming increasingly common and less valuable in the job market.

The speaker believes that the role of a programmer will soon be similar to that of a tradesperson, such as an electrician or a construction worker.

The celebration of nerds and the success of tech entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates is a relatively recent phenomenon.

The success of nerds and the fall of popular kids in high school is a fairy tale that may not come true for many.

There have been no significant API releases from major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, limiting opportunities for developers.

The wealth generated from coding came from apps, APIs, and app stores, not just the ability to code.

The last major app gold rush was with Flappy Bird, and the industry has since dried up.

The speaker is skeptical about the potential of VR, AR, and web 3.0 as the next big platforms for app development.

Chat GPT is not an app store and does not provide access to funds or users, unlike previous platforms.

The speaker questions if Chat GPT is truly AI or just advanced pattern recognition.

The rise of wireless earbuds and long-form audio content represents a new media format and opportunity.

Social media acts as a new operating system, with content going viral on platforms being the new norm for app success.

The speaker suggests that college students should learn content creation for the social media operating system instead of traditional coding.

Young people often face a lack of job opportunities and underemployment despite investing in education and coding skills.

Successful careers in tech often require being at the forefront of technology and pushing new trends.

The speaker predicts the end of certain careers like NFT artists, doctors, and photographers due to advancements in AI and automation.

There is potential growth in fields like AI art creation, game engine content creation, and being a citizen journalist on platforms like Twitter.

Software engineering is not as glamorous as it has been made out to be, and the speaker warns against the misconceptions surrounding it.