Feeling Sad About AI – Reflections on Programming Identity and Hope

Takeaway

Andy Balaam’s essay argues that AI‑driven shifts in software development have caused personal sadness rooted in loss of respect and identity, but he counters this with three hopeful messages: love the craft for its own sake, support fellow code enthusiasts, and recognize the enduring value of programming skills.

The Core of the Sadness

Conclusion: The sadness stems from perceived disrespect toward programmers, not just job insecurity.

Balaam explains that his grief is disproportionate to AI’s material impact on his life. He identifies two main drivers:

Existential threat – AI could replace traditional coding, jeopardizing his livelihood.
Disrespect – Programming has been his hobby, career, and source of personal worth. When industry voices claim "programming is obsolete" and suggest renting code from machines, it feels like a direct attack on his identity and the respect he derives from his craft.

"The thing I love; the thing I made my identity. The thing that earns me the respect I am so desperate for."

He acknowledges that many professions receive little societal respect, but the sudden devaluation of programming feels especially painful because it strikes at something he has built his self‑esteem around.

Three Audiences, Three Messages

1. To Himself (Andy)

Conclusion: Personal love for programming cannot be taken away by AI.

Balaam reminds himself that his passion is intrinsic: it excites, calms, and provides a creative outlet. He urges himself to stop seeking validation from those who "don't deserve any respect" and to focus on the joy of coding.

"They can't take your love of programming away from you. You love it. Enjoy it."

2. To Code Lovers (Hobbyists)

Conclusion: Hobbyists should keep coding for the love of it, not for external approval.

He repeats the same core advice: the craft remains theirs regardless of market trends. Supporting creators of coding content can sustain the community.

"If you like watching videos about coding, encourage the people making them, and you might just supply enough energy that they are able to continue."

3. To Learners (Future Professionals)

Conclusion: Coding skills remain valuable even in an AI‑augmented future.

Balaam offers two concrete reasons:

Thinking patterns – Learning to design, debug, and reason about complex systems cultivates transferable problem‑solving abilities.
Deep technical knowledge – Understanding low‑level details (machine code, pipelines, caches) stays relevant; compilers and systems engineers still need that expertise.

He cites his own children, who are learning programming, as evidence that foundational coding education will continue to prepare them for a changing world.

Community Reactions on Hacker News

Conclusion: The discussion reflects a spectrum of emotions—from existential dread to excitement—highlighting common themes of identity, adaptation, and the evolving role of programmers.

Simon W: Views the crisis as a recurring pattern in software history; stresses that depth of experience lets seasoned engineers leverage AI to achieve higher impact.
abnry: Values deep understanding over superficial praise; sees LLMs as tools that can enhance learning, not replace effort.
re‑nor‑ap: Describes a positive transformation, using AI to build projects that were previously impossible within reasonable timeframes.
Xenoamorphous: Warns that hobby‑level building may not sustain livelihoods; questions how long engineering challenges will remain.
spijdar: Suggests detaching self‑worth from code output; sees the ego blow‑up as an opportunity to re‑evaluate personal identity.
augment_me: Argues for building an identity outside one’s occupation to mitigate sadness when automation arrives.
Jeremy Herrman: Claims AI is a tool for the craftsman, enabling faster realization of long‑held ideas.
kenjackson: Shares concrete examples of daily AI‑assisted productivity, noting that while the type of work changes, personal satisfaction can persist.
Jon Jacky: Raises a broader cultural concern that future generations may lose knowledge of computer science itself, questioning whether AI‑only knowledge is sufficient.

These comments collectively illustrate that while some experience grief, many also find renewed enthusiasm, emphasizing adaptation over resignation.

Practical Takeaways for Developers

Conclusion: Embrace AI as an augmenting tool, preserve the intrinsic joy of coding, and diversify personal identity beyond professional output.

Leverage AI for higher‑order work – Use LLMs to automate boilerplate, freeing time for architecture, design, and strategic decisions.
Invest in foundational knowledge – Deep understanding of systems, compilers, and low‑level performance remains a differentiator.
Cultivate a broader self‑concept – Balance programming identity with other roles (parent, hobbyist, learner) to reduce emotional volatility.
Support the community – Encourage content creators and peers; a thriving ecosystem sustains motivation.
Stay adaptable – Continuous learning and flexibility will be essential as tooling evolves faster than in previous tech cycles.

Final Thought

Conclusion: Sadness over AI’s impact is understandable, but the enduring value of programming lies in the thinking it cultivates and the joy it brings; by reframing identity and embracing AI as a collaborator, developers can find renewed purpose.

"Love to you: you have massive, massive value, and you deserve respect, as you are today. Whether you can code or do anything else is irrelevant."