"A Meta Programmer with a $450,000 Annual Salary Became Homeless After Six Months"
This isn't a joke; it's a true story unfolding in Silicon Valley.
According to AI media outlet [New Zhiyuan]: A senior programmer at Meta, with 12 years of experience and an annual salary of $450,000, became homeless after only six months of unemployment.
Here's how things spiraled out of control:
• Sudden company layoffs → Zero income
• High mortgage payments in Silicon Valley → Cash flow crisis
• Mortgage default → Foreclosure
• $60,000 emergency room visit → Limited health insurance coverage
• Credit cards maxed out → Credit history ruined
• Damaged credit → Rejected rental offers
• No fixed address → Companies refused interviews
• Job search completely disrupted → Homelessness
From "elite programmer" to "social outcast," it only took six months.
Media reports may be somewhat exaggerated, but the underlying truth is harsh:
1️⃣ The high cost of living in modern society is itself an "invisible death knell."
2️⃣ AI is devouring white-collar jobs, with programmers bearing the brunt.
3️⃣ The wave of unemployment brought about by AI may have only just entered its first phase.
So what should ordinary people do?
Personally, I believe that becoming a "super individual" is a worthwhile path:
① Build personal influence through social media
For example, this guy could easily start an account on X, sharing his 12 years at Meta:
Real experience + industry insider information = natural traffic.
② Create a small, high-quality paid product using Vibe Coding
No need to pander to employers or wait for offers;
Serving only a small group of users can still lead to a good life.
What do you think?
If it were you, how would you cope with this wave of AI impact?
