

The edge case is software development, for the bog standard stuff I write at work it probably helps me get work done about 15%-30% faster and with costs of $200-$400 USD a month the math actually works out. At current prices anyway. Also the electricity costs of running open weight models is even cheaper and if there is a pop HW prices may make that an obvious choice too. The worst case IMO would be a slow boil of prices to recoup the unsustainable growth then a slow decline to wherever normal ends up. In that case everyone is left indignant.









The problem of not teaching the less experienced and just doing the work yourself has always existed. Perhaps to a lesser degree in some industries that mandated it by necessity/demand. AI makes it more convenient/viable or reduces necessity/demand but the lesson is the same and will be learnt again, at least eventually.