Three months ago I wrote a post saying “Stop Lying to CS Students, Your Degree Won’t Save You Anymore.”
People thought I was being too negative. Some said I was discouraging youth. Others said “AI can’t replace real developers.”
Last night I read an article by Matt Shumer (an AI startup CEO) that explained what’s actually happening. And honestly? I wasn’t negative enough.
Let me tell you what I learned and why every Pakistani entrepreneur, student and parent needs to hear this.
Matt wrote something that made me worried:
“I am no longer needed for the actual technical work of my job.”
This guy runs an AI company. He’s been in tech for years. And he’s saying AI now does his coding work better than he can.
Not “helps him.” Not “makes him more productive.”
Does it better. Completely. Without his help.
He describes what he wants built. Walks away for 4 hours. Comes back to find it done. Perfect. No corrections needed.
When I read that, I immediately thought about what happened at Uptech these past months.
What’s Actually Happening at Uptech (The Part I Haven’t Told You)
Remember when I posted about losing our biggest client? About downsizing 30%?
I blamed market conditions. Client budgets. The usual stuff.
But here’s what I didn’t say: Our clients aren’t just reducing budgets. They’re reducing their NEED for us.
A client told me last month: “We’re using AI tools now. We still need you but for much less work.”
Another one: “Can you build this in half the time? Because we found a tool that can do parts of it.”
I thought it was just a rough patch. After reading Matt’s article, I realize: This isn’t a rough patch. This is the beginning of the end for how our industry works.
The Timeline That Scares Me
Matt’s article laid out how fast this is moving:
2022: AI couldn’t do basic math
2023: AI passed the bar exam
2024: AI wrote working software
2025: Top engineers handed over most coding to AI
February 5, 2026: New models released that shocked even AI experts
But here’s the part that kept me awake:
AI is now building the next AI.
Read that again. The AI that’s already replacing developers is now helping create smarter versions of itself.
Matt quotes the CEO of Anthropic saying AI will eliminate 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs in 1-5 years.
Not “might.” Not “could.” Will.
Why This Hits Pakistan 10x Harder
Everything Matt wrote is happening in Silicon Valley with billion-dollar companies and the best infrastructure.
Now imagine it happening in Pakistan where:
Most IT companies are service-based (like Uptech)
We’re already struggling with client acquisition
Our biggest advantage was “cheap skilled labor”
Students are graduating with outdated curriculums
We have thousands of CS students in universities right now
When AI can write code better than developers, what happens to Pakistani IT companies whose entire business model is “we provide skilled developers at lower cost”?
The cost advantage disappears when AI costs $20/month.
The Uncomfortable Questions I’m Asking Myself
For Uptech: How do we survive when clients need us less every month?
For Pakistan’s IT industry: What happens to thousands of CS graduates when entry-level jobs disappear?
For my own son: What career advice will even make sense in 10 years?
I don’t have all the answers. But at least now I understand the actual problem.
What Should You Actually Do? (Real Talk)
If You’re a Student:
Stop thinking “I’ll learn to code and get a job”
Start thinking “I’ll learn to BUILD using AI”
The winners won’t be the best coders
They’ll be the ones who can use AI to create things nobody else can
If You’re a Developer:
Don’t compete with AI at coding
Learn to USE AI to code 10x faster
Your value is in knowing WHAT to build, not HOW to build
The “I don’t need AI” mindset will destroy your career
If You’re Running an IT Company:
Service-based models are dying
Product companies might survive
Start thinking: “What can we do that AI can’t?”
Spoiler: I haven’t figured this out yet either
The Part That Actually Keeps Me Up at Night
You know what’s terrifying?
Matt’s article is already outdated. He wrote it about models from February 5th.
It’s February 12th now.
In AI time, that’s ancient history.
By the time most people realize what’s happening, it’ll be too late to adapt.
Bottom Line
Three months ago I wrote that CS degrees won’t save students.
Today I’m saying: Most of our IT industry is about to be disrupted in ways we’re not ready for.
This isn’t me being negative. This is me being honest.
The good news? There’s still time to adapt. But the window is closing fast.
If you’re in IT, if you’re a student, if you’re running a tech business: The worst thing you can do right now is pretend this isn’t happening.
Matt compared this moment to February 2020 before COVID changed everything.
I think he’s right.
The only question is: Will you be the person who saw it coming or the person who says “nobody told me” a year from now?
P.S.: I’m going to be sharing my journey of actually using AI daily. The wins, the failures, what works, what doesn’t. Because I’d rather figure this out together than pretend I have all the answers.
If you read this and thought “this is too scary,” remember: Knowing about the storm doesn’t cause it. But it does let you prepare.
Originally posted on Facebook on 12 February 2026.
