Anil Dash explores how LLMs are transforming the coding profession differently than other creative fields, arguing that while AI removes drudgery for coders (unlike artists/writers), two distinct cohorts face different challenges: stable 9-to-5 coders face displacement through deskilling, while identity-driven coders must adapt to becoming orchestrators rather than craftspeople as AI generates the code.
A critical essay arguing that much of the current AI boom represents 'tool-shaped objects'—systems that create the appearance and feeling of productive work without generating actual measurable output, comparing modern LLM infrastructure to FarmVille-style engagement mechanics designed to make users feel productive rather than be productive.