My key thought is this, many of us necessarily work in low-purpose, boring corporate development jobs. The code was the only thing making it enjoyable, because problem solving was the skill we enjoy exercising and you get that in spades with programming, even if the actual business is soul sucking. This is the reality for many professions not just software. The second part of that reality is that we have to work to pay the bills, and stability is an important pillar that many families rely on. I mention that to answer the inevitable question "why would you work there then?". There isn't an abundance of fulfilling purposeful jobs unfortunately.
That problem solving aspect is being replaced by AI, and that means anyone in a position like that is losing the piece of the job that they enjoyed. The more apt analogy is that the farrier worked in a farrier factory, and the horses were actually mass produced statue horses with no purpose but making money. He still enjoyed working with his hands, but now they have replaced that part of his job with a button to press. Now he presses the button in the horse statue factory. He still has a job but now no joy, and eventually they will automate the button too. The outlook IS bleak, and many of us will move on to totally new industries and that's fine. Some will stay because they have a rare job where they have agency to problem solve on the layer above code. Many still just press the button to feed their family.
That problem solving aspect is being replaced by AI, and that means anyone in a position like that is losing the piece of the job that they enjoyed. The more apt analogy is that the farrier worked in a farrier factory, and the horses were actually mass produced statue horses with no purpose but making money. He still enjoyed working with his hands, but now they have replaced that part of his job with a button to press. Now he presses the button in the horse statue factory. He still has a job but now no joy, and eventually they will automate the button too. The outlook IS bleak, and many of us will move on to totally new industries and that's fine. Some will stay because they have a rare job where they have agency to problem solve on the layer above code. Many still just press the button to feed their family.