We all know that those corporate statements that announce mass tech layoffs and claim that the job cuts are actually a plan to fuel growth -- we all know that's BS.

Right?

I mean, let's get this out of the way. The gall on that reasoning offends me. Like, on a deep spiritual level. Because if there's a tenet of business that I truly believe is unflinching, it's that you can't cut your way to growth. Ever.

So why are all these nerds being shown the door?

Well, there are a few reasons. Most of them unavoidable, but none of them... that.

Be forewarned, I'm going to do a little speculation and opinion here, connecting dots I believe need to be connected. I don't think I'm wrong though. Disagree with me if you feel like it.

No One Understands AI But Everyone Thinks They Do

I swear, if I see one more article from some "expert" with a headline that screams about AI taking everyone's job except those of us who are wise enough to learn how to use AI, I will... write a strongly worded letter to the publisher because it's the publisher's fault for letting that garbage through for the clicks.

I can explain why the AI dystopia isn't true in three words. Movies. Aren't. Real.

AI is not Skynet. We're not living in The Matrix. We're not obligated to welcome our new OpenAI overlords.

The current evolution of GenAI is not going to be the AI that universally replaces knowledge-based labor. What they're selling as the "AI" function of today's GenAI can be more closely described as "powerful computers doing if/then statements really fast" than "sentient."

However, GenAI is indeed a threat to SaaS, especially the business intelligence systems that create and aggregate the data that power an awful lot of other B2B SaaS. These people are freaking out. And they envision a panacea in AI - this technical marvel that can do any tech task at any tech time for less tech money.

Why pay all these high-priced software engineers to develop elegant solutions to specific business problems when we can just ask ChatGPT to solve those problems for us?

Good luck with that.

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