Passion isn’t found, it’s built — over time, through effort and repetition. From the IKEA effect to diary studies of AI-assisted work, this talk digs into why engineers are reporting a declining sense of craft, and shares nine practical ways to stay connected to the work: prompting with intent, post-processing, setting boundaries, building and finishing things, teaching, finding a niche, staying connected and never stopping learning.
How to Stay Passionate in Tech in the Age of AI
This talk explores how AI tooling is quietly reshaping our sense of accomplishment as engineers, and practical ways to reclaim your passion in this new era.
Sources & links
The role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in engagement strategies.
1. Breaking Engagement Apart
Deci & Ryan, 2000.
2. Self-Determination Theory
Maslach & Jackson, 1981. Journal of Organizational Behavior.
3. The Measurement of Experienced Burnout
A synthesis of data from various sources by Clearing AI.
4. The Scale of AI Fatigue in 2025
How AI is erasing entry-level tech jobs and rewriting the career ladder.
5. The 73% Collapse
Alexandru Nedelcu.
6. AI Sucks the Joy Out of Programming
Hacker News discussion.
7. Has Anyone Lost Passion in SWE Due to AI?
Six facts about the recent employment effects of AI. Stanford Digital Economy Lab, 2025.
8. Canaries in the Coal Mine?
Pierce, Kostova & Dirks, 2003. Review of General Psychology.
9. The State of Psychological Ownership
Self-reported reductions in cognitive effort from a survey of knowledge workers. Microsoft Research.
10. The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking
Nestojko, Bui, Kornell & Bjork, 2014. Memory & Cognition.
11. Expecting to Teach Enhances Learning
How generative code is transforming software development.
12. AI Coding Tools in 2026
Annual developer survey, including language salary data.
13. Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2025
Workplace friendships play a critical role in employee mental health and job satisfaction.
14. KPMG Workplace Friendships Survey