In the once-booming world of technology careers, a stark reversal is unfolding for recent computer science graduates. What was heralded as a surefire path to six-figure salaries and job security has morphed into a gauntlet of rejections and underemployment, largely driven by the rapid ascent of artificial intelligence. Companies that once snapped up entry-level coders are now leaning on AI tools to automate routine programming tasks, leaving a glut of qualified young professionals scrambling for alternatives.

Manasi Mishra, a 21-year-old Purdue University graduate, embodies this shift. Expecting a starting salary north of $165,000, she instead found herself interviewing at Chipotle after sending out hundreds of applications with scant responses. Her story, detailed in a recent report by The New York Times, highlights how AI-driven efficiencies are decimating entry-level roles at tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, which have conducted widespread layoffs while embracing automated coding solutions.

The AI Disruption in Entry-Level Coding

This transformation isn’t isolated. A Federal Reserve Bank of New York study, cited in an analysis by TechCrunch, reveals unemployment rates for fresh computer science graduates hovering between 6.1% and 7.5%—more than double those for biology or art history majors. The irony is profound: AI, built by the very engineers now being sidelined, is ideally positioned to replace the rote tasks that once formed the bedrock of junior positions.

Industry insiders point to tools like GitHub Copilot and similar AI assistants, which can generate code snippets with minimal human input, as key culprits. As The Atlantic explored in a June piece, this automation wave is bursting the computer-science bubble, forcing graduates to pivot to non-tech fields such as sales or service industries.

Layoffs and Market Saturation Amplify the Squeeze

Compounding the issue are mass layoffs across Silicon Valley. Over the past year, firms including Meta, Google, and Apple have trimmed thousands of jobs, often citing efficiency gains from AI. A Fortune report on Microsoft research lists 40 occupations most vulnerable to AI, with entry-level tech roles prominently featured—even extending to seemingly secure fields like teaching.

For many graduates, the job hunt has become a numbers game with dismal odds. An Indian-origin tech graduate in California, profiled in News18, recounted receiving just one callback after months of effort, attributing the drought to AI’s encroachment on coding jobs.

Rethinking Education and Career Paths

Educators and policymakers are now grappling with the fallout. Universities that ramped up computer science programs during the coding boom are seeing enrollment surges collide with diminished job prospects. As Seeking Alpha noted in a recent update, the market’s transformation demands a reevaluation of curricula to emphasize AI literacy, ethical considerations, and interdisciplinary skills over pure coding proficiency.

Yet, optimism persists among some experts. While entry-level positions shrink, demand grows for specialists in AI development, data ethics, and system integration—roles that require human oversight beyond automation’s reach. A Daily Mail article underscores this duality, quoting graduates who, after initial setbacks, are upskilling in AI to reenter the field.

A Broader Economic Reckoning

This shift signals a broader reckoning for the tech sector, aging into bureaucratic behemoths as described in another New York Times piece. For industry veterans, it’s a reminder that innovation often displaces its creators, urging a focus on adaptable talent pipelines.

As the dust settles, the message to aspiring tech workers is clear: the era of easy coding riches is over. Success now hinges on blending technical prowess with creativity and resilience, navigating an industry where AI is both disruptor and opportunity.