Deedy Das, a partner at the venture capital firm Menlo Ventures, wrote on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, that workers in the technology sector are experiencing high levels of anxiety regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on their careers. Das reported that industry professionals are questioning the long-term viability of roles such as software engineering and product management as AI tools become more capable of automating tasks.
The observations follow a period of development in AI tools that can write code, draft documents, and analyze data. These shifts have been described as a reset in the coding profession, where experienced developers often spend time reviewing and correcting AI-generated work.
According to Das, the concerns extend to the financial value of working at startups. He noted that workers are questioning if company equity will retain value, citing the examples of Airtable and Miro. Both startups were previously valued at more than $10 billion but reached agreements in 2026 to be acquired by Bending Spoons at enterprise values of approximately $1.29 billion and $1.36 billion, respectively.
The financial impact for startup employees is measured in the potential loss of equity value. For those at companies once valued at $10 billion, a drop to an acquisition price near $1.3 billion represents a reduction in the projected value of their compensation packages. Beyond the workplace, Das indicated that these workers are expressing concern over their ability to afford homes in the Bay Area, navigate changes to immigration policy, find romantic partners, and maintain a sense of purpose.
The effects could influence the venture capital market and the talent pipeline for technology firms. If workers perceive lower value in startup equity or diminished career longevity, it may alter how companies recruit and retain staff. Furthermore, these anxieties reflect a precedent where technological breakthroughs in automation begin to affect high-skill roles. At this time, no specific legislative or regulatory deadlines related to these labor shifts were reported.