AI developers in Silicon Valley are seeking therapy for existential fears that their work could destroy humanity, according to local therapists.
Candice Thompsonova, a therapist in the region, reports that AI engineers express anxiety about building systems capable of causing global catastrophe, a concern once dismissed as delusional but now seen as grounded in real technological risks.
Despite these fears, most workers continue their AI development, believing that if they do not advance the technology, others will, and they hope to influence its direction from within the field.
The competitive pressure among leading AI companies intensifies workloads, contributing to widespread burnout as employees face relentless demands to outperform rivals.
Adding to their distress, developers recognize that their success in creating advanced AI may ultimately render their own roles obsolete, as the systems they build could replace human labor in their profession.
Therapists note that for many clients, apocalyptic worries are not the primary reason for seeking help; instead, burnout from extreme workplace expectations drives most therapeutic consultations.
How AI development creates self-undermining work cycles
Workers describe a paradox where laboring to advance AI simultaneously fuels fears of existential risk and professional obsolescence, trapping them in a cycle where success threatens their livelihood.
This dynamic reflects broader industry trends where AI tools are reshaping job functions, with employees spending more time guiding AI agents than writing code, as reported in recent Silicon Valley hiring shifts toward the title of “builder.”
Why do AI workers continue despite fears of causing harm?
They believe that if they do not develop AI, others will, and they hope to steer the technology’s impact from within the industry.
What makes their work contribute to potential job loss?
Their success in building advanced AI could automate tasks currently performed by humans, including their own roles in development.