Such an important point, I've seen and suspected the end of ZIRP being a much much greater influence on white collar work than we suspect. AI is going to take all the negative press but the flow of capital is ultimately what determines how the business works, which determines what software gets built. Conway's law 101. The white collar bloodbath is more of a haircut to shed waste accumulated during the excesses of ZIRP.
AI also happens to be a perfect scapegoat: CEOs who over-hired get to shift the blame to this faceless boogeyman, and (bonus!) new hires are more desperate/willing to accept worse compensation.
Is it negative press for AI, or is it convincing some investors that it’s actually causing a tectonic shift in the workforce and economy? It could be positive in some sense. Though ultimately negative, because the outcomes are unlikely to reflect a continuation of the perceived impact or imaginary progress of the technology.