I am a self taught software developer. I was previously an electrical engineer.

For the past 10 years I’ve spent almost all my spare time reading and learning and lifting weights - software, electrical engineering, reading, and creating what I thought were novel projects - mostly in the software domain.

For the longest time I’ve only been interested in ideas that haven’t really been done before, maybe that’s because I have adhd? But lots of the ideas I pursue and build are relatively novel or unique in some way, not derivative.

Anyway, then LLMs happened. Now any idiot can just ask an AI for ideas or to think for them, or to build software for them in a single shot.

Initially I was really excited by LLMs because I thought great, something to bounce ideas off. Now LLMs have far surpassed any idea I could possibly have. Not only that, but I’m a builder and I have always built things and launched projects to the world. Now my projects are drowning in a sea of noise. I’m contributing to the noise.

I don’t even hand program anymore, because the llm can do it all better than me. I can architect better, but soon that will disappear too.

I don’t mean to be morbid, but I feel like I don’t have much to live for anymore. I’m young (late 20s), I’m semi-disabled, and AI is affecting my career.

I see the writing on the wall. Jobs are being heavily affected, layoffs constantly, restructures, the works.

Before AI I had a way to stand out amongst the crowd. I had industry awards, global recognition to a certain degree, successful business exits, and strong programming skills.

AI is advancing so rapidly that I think even system architects are fucked.

So, can’t do physical jobs due to semi disability and pretty soon won’t be able to do office work because - any idiot can do office work now.

I’m pretty checked out, and have basically lost passion for everything.

I’ve been thinking about the phrase “chop wood, carry water” or whatever it is, and I’d like to do that. But that doesn’t pay the bills.

Ask HN: I feel like I've lost my identity due to AI