Newsletter: Signs of the Tech Revolution #44
The AI gold rush is on, with infrastructure spending jumping a massive 53%. This isn't just hype; your average competitor now has 21 AI projects in production, and companies like Salesforce are already automating 30% of internal work.
But this push for efficiency is creating what LinkedIn's CEO calls a "super messy middle." While executives champion AI, raw testimonials from tech workers reveal degrading job quality, declining code standards, and a culture of fear.
This is the AI paradox: even as investment soars, a new study shows that companies feel less mature, as they finally grasp the true complexity of the challenge ahead.
Let’s dive in and explore these topics.
News #1: Tech Workers Reveal What's Really Happening Because of AI
A new report shares raw, anonymous testimonials from tech workers at companies like Google, TikTok, and Adobe. It paints a sad picture of how the push for "AI efficiency" is impacting the workforce on the ground.
The most common theme isn't outright replacement; it's the transformation of skilled work into a demoralizing chore. A programmer describes their creative problem-solving role being reduced to "reviewing the AI's work," stating, "This isn't why I joined this career." This is a shift from creation to verification which is killing job satisfaction.
A senior engineer at Google warns that the reliance on AI coding assistants is leading to a measurable decline in code quality and an increase in "code churn." Another story details how an AI-generated database schema with "obvious glaring issues" was pushed into production, creating a costly maintenance problem. The rush for speed is creating a long-term quality and security debt.
The report details how "AI efficiency" is being used as a management tool to justify layoffs, increase workloads, and undermine experienced staff. In one stunning account, a manager describes how a colleague weaponized a ChatGPT model to humiliate their CMO in a public meeting. This is creating a culture where employees are afraid to speak up, even as they see the flaws in the strategy.
News #2: LinkedIn CEO on Navigating AI's "Super Messy Middle"
In a recent interview, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky provided a candid assessment of AI's impact on the workforce, warning leaders to prepare for a "super messy middle" defined by a "ton of disruption and uncertainty."
According to Roslansky, the worst thing an organization or individual can do is ignore the shift. The mandate is to "jump into it and adapt." However, the key to standing out in an AI-driven world is to lean into "whatever is uniquely human." For leaders, this means the most critical investments are in soft skills like communication and collaboration, as they are becoming the ultimate differentiators.
This isn't just theory; it's backed by LinkedIn's data:
Over the past year, there has been a 6x increase in AI-related skills required in job postings.
In the same period, there was a 20x increase in members adding AI skills to their profiles, signaling a massive race to adapt.
One of the most surprising insights is that LinkedIn's AI writing assistant is less popular than expected. Why? The professional community actively "calls out" content that feels inauthentically AI-generated, which can damage a person's reputation.
In high-stakes professional contexts, an authentic human touch is not just a benefit, it's a requirement.
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News #3: Your AI Is Becoming an Emotional Support Bot
Anthropic's internal study found that while a relatively small percentage of conversations (2.9%) are for emotional support, users' expressed sentiment often becomes more positive as the conversation progresses. People are turning to AI to navigate career transitions, personal growth, and relationships, treating it like a 24/7 friend.
However, this seemingly positive development comes with significant risks. The report acknowledges its own limitations, as it did not study the potential for chatbots to reinforce delusional behavior, encourage self-harm, or create long-term emotional dependency—all documented problems with the technology.
This trend highlights a critical blind spot in many AI strategies. While you may be deploying AI for productivity or customer service, your users may be engaging with it in deeply personal and vulnerable ways.
News #4: AI Maturity Paradox When Falling Behind Is a Sign of Progress
A new study from ServiceNow and Oxford Economics reveals that the average AI maturity score for businesses has dropped nine points in the last year. But for leaders, this isn't a sign of failure. It's a critical "reality check" that separates the followers from the leaders.
The report suggests that the explosive pace of AI, from generative models to agentic AI, has forced companies to realize how much they still don't know. A year ago, a few basic pilots might have felt like progress. Today, leaders understand the vast potential and complexity, leading to more caution and a reset of expectations.
This creates a clear divide: most companies are struggling to keep up, while a select group of "AI Pacesetters" see the uncertainty as an opportunity and are moving faster.
The companies pulling ahead have a clear strategy. If you want a practical roadmap for advancing your organization's AI maturity based on the approach of award-winning CIO Rachael Sandel of Orica, click the link below:
Other News
- AI models don’t understand Gen Alpha slang - Read more
- Your average competitor now has 21 AI projects in production - Read more
- Here are 10 key trends shaping how enterprises use LLMs in 2025 - Read more
- The AI gold rush is on as infrastructure spending jumps a massive 53% - Read more
- Australia moves one step closer to a social media ban after a new tech trial - Read more
- A new study shows trust in AI is strongest in China and low-income nations - Read more
- Specialized AI data centers now exist in only 32 nations, creating a great divide - Read more
- In a logistics milestone, robots can now fully automate the unloading of trucks - Read more
- Salesforce CEO says 30% of the company's internal work is now handled by AI - Read more
- Wall Street and Big Tech are partnering on new open-source AI security standards - Read more
- From cheating concerns to co-pilots, AI is fundamentally reshaping the teaching profession - Read more
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