‘Golden Era Is Over’ Techies On The Internet Blame It All On AI

The tech industry has undergone major shifts in recent years, moving away from its once-ideal “golden era” defined by rewarding work, high salaries, and generous perks. A Reddit post recently shed light on this transformation, highlighting rising concerns around mass layoffs, AI-driven automation, and a surge in H-1B hiring. Many tasks once handled by highly paid engineers are now automated as companies look to cut costs. Big tech firms like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Intel, and TCS have collectively laid off over 130,000 employees in 2025 alone, according to Crunchbase.

Users on Reddit shared their frustrations, with some equating AI use to large-scale offshoring. Others pointed out increased overseas hiring, notably in countries like Colombia and India, resulting in wage stagnation and reduced opportunities for local US workers. One commenter noted how tech companies no longer prioritize employee wellbeing or climate commitments and instead silence dissenting voices. There’s also a shift in product focus—no longer building useful technology, but extracting maximum profit, often at users’ expense. Many feel that business executives, not technologists, are now steering the industry—with negative consequences for both workers and consumers.