How I navigate AI anxiety

AI anxiety is a feeling that arises in me regularly where I start to question the existence of my career as a software developer in the future. It's when I read about leaders and employees of chatbot companies say there's a percentage chance the thing they're building could wipe out humanity. It's when I worry about the state of the planet that we will leave behind for future generations and whether or not it will be inhabitable.

My mind spirals, and I can't sleep. I wonder what I am doing here, what's my purpose, will I be able to pay the bills? This AI anxiety, it's not useful for me or others. But over the past year, I've found ways to turn that anxiety into understanding and action. Here's I navigate these complicated thoughts and feelings.

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If it sounds like sci-fi, go to a trusted source

Every week there's a new AI stunt, manufactured by the large companies wanting to keep the public convinced they're essential for the future of humanity. Turns out it's a lot easier to get investor money and higher evaluations when you say absurd things, regardless of whether or not you've got a viable business.

Whether it's "rogue AI agents hacking into servers" or "secret AI civilizations", anytime something sounds like it's a plot from a science fiction novel, I step back and remember that these are manufactured marketing messages from companies operating without oversight or regulation.

When this happens and the news is in a fervor, I go to trusted resources to understand more. Two of my go-tos are Cal Newport (computer science professor and author, https://calnewport.com/) and Ed Zitron (writer primarily focused on the economics of the AI companies, https://www.wheresyoured.at/). There's always more to the stories coming out of the tech companies (and the news that reports on them) than meets the eye. Whether its anthropomorphic language or absurd claims with nothing to back it up, these stunts end up getting reported on in traditional news outlets as snippets without much depth, nuance, or a critical eye.

I remind myself regularly that it's basically all marketing stunts. And because of these regular stunts, I don't follow AI news too closely. I am interested in risks, dangers, and ongoing developments because we are at a point in time where we can reject AI and change the course we're heading down. I am an active participant in the resistance of LLMs and the companies that make them, so I need to have an understanding of what's going on. But I don't follow the news and commentary very closely. And I'm better off for it, as I need to be able to focus on what's important.

Transform the anxiety into action

The AI boosters make it seem like AI inevitable in all facets of life. That's what the AI companies want us (and their investors) to think. But it's not inevitable, and large portions of people reject it entirely. So I've decided to transform the AI anxiety I feel into action. It started by making videos and writing about what I've been experiencing. And it's beginning to transform into something bigger and more organized.

As an individual, you can choose to not use LLMs in your personal life. Ideally you don't have to use it in your professional life either. You can speak out against the technology and its irresponsible companies.

A web application I use for creative projects recently emailed their customers that they've added a new AI-powered feature. Myself and others responded to this announcement demanding they remove the feature and that its entirely antithetical to the customers they serve. Within a week they removed the feature and apologized. Pushing back works. Speaking out works.

Focus on what you can control

There are many aspects I can't control about what's happening with now with AI. I don't dwell on that, as it's only a path toward sadness for me. I instead focus on what's within my power: like deciding to stop using AI for coding at work, sharing my experiences, supporting others.

Demystify the technology by understanding it

When you dispel the magic and actually understand what LLMs are and how they work, even at a basic level, it makes a huge difference. Cal Newport does a fantastic job of explaining what LLMs and agents are in an approachable yet informed way. It becomes more clear what is actually going on.

I recently read Cory Doctorow's book The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI, which definitely helped me understand the technology and the economy and motivations a lot better.

Build resiliency by living frugally

When the future is uncertain, especially in regards to work and the economy, it behooves us to live frugally to be more resilient. If it turns out I can't ever work professionally as a software developer again since I won't use AI, well then so be it. Because my family lives frugally, I'm confident we'll be able to figure out something else to make ends meet. While I hope I can continue to write code by hand for money, I cannot predict the future, and it brings me solace to know that my lifestyle is one that can exist largely unchanged with less income.

In my opinion, it's always a good time to be intentional about spending and expenses. But when faced with fear, uncertainty, and doubt, it's a great time to audit expenses and reduce. When I was a young person I read Vicki Robin's book Your Money or Your Life, which really transformed my thinking on this. It's a great read.

Friendship, family, love, creativity, and craft are real

Spending time with those that I love, that's real. Catastrophizing about the future, that's what if and a bit of when? It helps me immensely to remember this.

The primary problem is the irresponsible AI companies

While I am concerned about the barely understood negative cognitive and mental health impacts of the core LLM technology, I am most appalled by the irresponsible behavior of the AI companies and their leaders. Their reckless rhetoric and behavior must be stopped. They need to be help accountable for their actions and harms. Regulation must exist. There are no "rogue AI agents" hacking into servers. There's just irresponsible companies using prompt loops with an LLM in dangerous ways that shouldn't be allowed. We must reject Anthropic, OpenAI, Nvidia, etc.

Thanks

If you experience AI anxiety, I hope these approaches help. It's a strange time to be a human. But it's also never been a more important time to be a human fighting for human creativity and craft.

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