From the end of tech career to the welding: This is how Tabby starts again!

From the end of tech career to the welding: This is how Tabby starts again!

Oklahoma, USA - Times change, and especially in the Tech world you can see this particularly clearly. Tabby Toney, a 37-year-old former software engineer from Oklahoma, has experienced this firsthand. She started her career in the technology industry, triggered by a friend, and worked into software development through manual tests and user experience teams. But the joy of creative problem solving in an area that increasingly focused on artificial intelligence (AI) was decreasing. After her release in May 2025, she decided to take the leap into a blue labor market and began training in welding - an area in which she had already gained initial experience at school. Despite her concerns and the challenges that the technological landscape brings with it, she feels comfortable with her decision.

Behind Taylor's change to the welding shop is much more than just a professional reorientation. Many specialists in the Tech world experience the same pressure to adapt to the rapidly changing environment. In recent years, automation, driven by AI and digitization, has shifted the boundaries of jobs. Amodei from Anthropic notes that young professionals in particular are particularly affected by these changes. In five years, AI could endanger up to half of all entry positions, according to the forecasts. This creates uncertainty among applicants and even among experienced specialists who adhere to routine tasks. While some analysts indicate that experienced employees can benefit from the implementation of AI, the reality is often more complex, as Brad Lightcap has found from Openaai.

face the changes

Although some of the larger technologies such as Google, Meta and Microsoft have carried out massive layoffs in recent years, the data situation shows that more experienced employees can actually be offered more opportunities in certain areas if they accept the new technologies. Surprisingly, some companies even report on an increase in employment for experienced workers in sectors influenced by AI. Ruyu Chen from the Stanford Institute notes that many programmers are able to use AI solutions to support their activities. But not every perspective is so positive.

Danielle Li von MIT warns that AI has the potential to decouple people from their valuable skills. While higher income groups are more susceptible to job losses, the decline is rapidly progressing in entry positions. According to reports by Robert Plotkin, partner of a renowned law firm, there was a decline in the contract lawyer by automated AI applications in his industry. Empirical data show that employment figures for employees with less than two years of experience in sectors already affected by AI have dropped by up to 25% - an alarming trend.

The future of work

Current trends in the world of work clearly show the challenges that result from the progressive automation and use of AI. It is discussed whether and how Ki will adapt or even replace human work. Researchers assume that new jobs are being created while existing structures are faltering. According to forecasts, up to two thirds of all jobs are potentially affected by AI. The influence on the labor market is profound and experts warn of the possible economic and political consequences of these changes. An aspect that the EU Parliament recently treated in a newly decided AI law to create a regulating framework.

Tabby Toney is now faced with the challenge of establishing themselves in a new professional field, while their former colleagues are fighting in the tech sector at the front of AI change. Your story illustrates how important it is to stay flexible and find new ways. What remains is the realization that the world of work changes unmistakably - and that sometimes you can also take a new chance from a painful farewell. It remains to be seen whether this applies to every specialization, but one thing is certain: the adaptability is the key to success in the modern world.

Links: Business Insider , techspot , bpb.de