The current atmosphere surrounding the AI surge is not positive, even within the tech sector, as illustrated by a detailed social media update from Menlo Ventures partner Deedy Das. 

Das characterized San Francisco as “rather hectic at the moment,” noting that “the disparity in outcomes is the worst I’ve ever witnessed.”

Employing a “rough AI estimate,” he indicated that approximately 10,000 individuals — founders and staff at firms like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Nvidia — have “achieved retirement wealth well beyond $20M,” while others fret that “they may spend their whole lives in a lucrative (but <$500k) role and never reach that point.”

Moreover, “layoffs are rampant,” and “numerous software engineers feel that their expertise is no longer relevant,” resulting in uncertainty about suitable career trajectories and “a profound discontent regarding work (and its future),” Das remarked. 

This led to some eye-rolling on X, with entrepreneur Deva Hazarika contending that “most individuals in this post” are “extremely privileged and can simply opt to pursue happiness.”

Another commentator pointed out it’s “quite remarkable & also somewhat unpleasant” that in the current cycle, “the same technology serves as both the lottery ticket & the force undermining your safety net.”