Software engineers are facing an ‘identity crisis bordering on depression,’ Menlo Ventures partner says A partner at Menlo Ventures observes a growing divide among software engineers due to the increased use of AI coding tools. “Lazy” engineers rely heavily on AI, while “craftsmen” bear the burden of reviewing and fixing AI-generated code, leading to burnout and an identity crisis.

• Software engineers are experiencing an identity crisis due to the rise of AI coding tools.
• A divide exists between engineers who heavily use AI (“lazy”) and those who review and fix AI-generated code (“craftsmen”).
• The “craftsmen” are feeling overworked and frustrated as they handle the burden of understanding and correcting AI output.
• This shift from writing code to managing machine-generated work is causing some engineers to question their value.
• The problem is exacerbated by “AI sprawl,” where workers juggle multiple AI tools without clear evidence of increased effectiveness.
• The tension is common in larger, older companies with diverse talent pools where AI output grows faster than evaluation capacity. Continue reading https://www.businessinsider.com/software-engineers-face-an-ai-identity-crisis-vc-partner-says-2026-6