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Anarcat: The people vs the AI overlords
Large Language Models (LLMs) are exacerbating an existing crisis within the open-source software community, particularly regarding the volume of code reviews. This pressure extends beyond open-source, impacting the entire computing field. LLMs are fundamentally changing how programming is done, even for those who try to avoid them. Users are employing LLMs to automate extensive code reviews, generating significant compute costs.This automation raises concerns about the potential for API pricing changes, essentially charging for what was previously more accessible. The author, a proponent of free and open-source software, observes a shift towards renting software, mirroring a past era where acquiring tools like compilers was a significant expense. Now, many software tools and LLM access require ongoing monthly payments, leading to a situation where developers must pay to get their work done.This trend is seen as "enshitification," where companies train models on stolen work and then sell it back to developers. Furthermore, LLMs are presented as a threat to engineering jobs, contributing to a deteriorating job market with fewer opportunities and lower pay. Tech companies are perceived as actively attacking the engineering profession by pushing for the use of models they control.Even without mandatory LLM use, the pressure to keep pace with LLM-generated work is immense, potentially compromising supply chain security. The author contends that the LLM hype is part of a broader societal attack on workers and the environment. Addressing this requires collective political and social action, rather than individual adaptation.