How should software engineers adapt to AI-driven layoffs?

With major tech companies laying off mid-level engineers due to AI efficiency gains, what strategies are engineers using to stay competitive?

I'm interested in both immediate adaptations from those affected and how upcoming CS graduates are preparing for an AI-augmented industry.

What does the engineering career look like in the future ?

I recently wrote my thoughts on this topic.

https://github.com/paradite/ai-replace-swe

Short answer: Leverage AI, become more productive with AI and make sure you can output more value than just AI itself. Also move up the value chain to product management, team management.

Assuming it's a real trend rather than hype/excuses... It'll be interesting to see all the bugs and maintenance headaches that occur on a delay. That said, the job market can probably stay irrational longer than I can stay solvent.

I expect to lean heavily on softer skills like "being able to collaborate with product owners help them figure out what they actually want to build", or "able to usefully simplify concepts in a way that helps non-developers make decisions."

It’s funny, when this article was submitted earlier today…

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/you-blamed-dei-for-hur...

Someone said that people would start blaming AI.

It’s not AI. There are too many people chasing too few jobs and the BigTech companies aside from Google are focusing on profitable segments.

The IPO market is dead and which caused the entire VC Ponzi scheme to collapse.

As far as upcoming CS graduates? They are screwed. Why would most companies want to hire new grads when there are proven experienced people looking for jobs?

So, Salesforce stops hiring software engineers, but OpenAI has 20 pages of open positions? That doesn't sound quite right.