In this episode, we separate the AI hype from the reality of the 2025 job market and look at why the "AGI" promises of tech founders haven't yet materialized. From "AI washing" in corporate layoffs to critical privacy alerts for Gmail users, here is what you need to know:

• The "AI Washing" Trend: Ryan explores why companies are using AI as an excuse for layoffs, arguing that replacing human customer service and coders with AI is often a move for headlines rather than actual efficiency.

• The Innovation Plateau: We discuss whether AI development has hit a wall; while early progress was lightning-fast, current updates feel like minor adjustments rather than revolutionary leaps.

• Coding vs. Vibe Coding: While tools like Claude Code are making development easier for non-coders, the CEO of Cursor warns that "vibe coding" can lead to shaky foundations and crumbling infrastructure without human oversight.

• Privacy Red Alert: A crucial breakdown on why Google has automatically opted Gmail users into AI training and the specific steps you must take to opt-out and protect your private data.

• AI Failures & Market Shifts: From a lawyer losing his career over fake AI citations to ChatGPT's recent 22% traffic drop following the Gemini 3 launch, we look at the growing skepticism surrounding LLM reliability.

  
  

  Claude coding - https://x.com/emollick/status/2008253907701821650

  @emollick

Some more thoughts check out the substack -

https://ryanoilrig.substack.com/p/the-pendulum-is-swinging-on-ai

• The Quiet Front: We discuss the recent lack of major, "sock-blowing-off" AI updates and debate whether this lull is due to the holiday season or a sign that the pace of innovation is slowing down.

• AI-Proof Careers: We tackle a listener question about finding career paths safe from AI takeover, discussing the value of physical trades, the "small physical component" theory (like dentistry), and why predicting the future remains impossible.

• The "Dark Leisure" Debate: We explore Fabian Stelzer's intriguing theory that people hide their AI use not out of shame, but because the traditional labor compensation model offers no economic incentive to share productivity gains.

• The Dark Side of AI Pranks: We review a disturbing real-world example: the Florida woman who used a homeless man’s AI-generated viral image to file a fake assault report, underscoring the serious ethical consequences of synthetic media.

• The Human Renaissance: We conclude with a final thought from Laura Matsue, appreciating how the increasing "synthetic" nature of the internet is driving people back to "old ways"—physical books, in-person meet-ups, and a greater appreciation for human connection and presence.

Find the Contributors:

@Ryanmariebach78 (Ry)@fabianstelzer (Fabian)@lauramatsue (Laura Matsue)

• ChatGPT is facing scrutiny ("under the gun") following recent developments, though the episode notes indicate a general lack of excitement over Thanksgiving updates like Kling 01 and Runway gen 4.5.

• The future of coding is seen as mostly AI-driven, with a mention of Mark Zuckerberg's prediction that all coding will be done by AI within 18 months.

• Major business developments include a partnership between Suno and Warner Music Group, and the expected roll-out of ads in ChatGPT responses by OpenAI.

• The financial relationship between OpenAI and Nvidia remains undefined, with the Nvidia CFO noting no definitive agreement, supporting the podcast's long-held view that many agreements are non-concrete and OpenAI's profits may be lower than perceived.

• A strong debate exists regarding the monetization and competition in the AI space, with arguments suggesting that Google's strategy with Gemini (potentially running ad-free and leveraging its search monetization) could force competitors to operate at a loss until they bleed out, giving Google a nearly unfair market advantage.

@maxescu@slow_developer@Ross__Hendricks@signulll