So first they get devs hooked on AI.
Then they watch and wait as dev skills degrade. Like, the actual skills to get the work done without AI.
Then, once devs are unable to be productive without AI anymore, they turn down the screws, pulling profit from those who cannot do without anymore.
It’s a tactic of capitalism that is as old as time. But I think it’s been done too quickly this time, as there are still plenty of devs which have sat on the sidelines, waiting for things to shake out, and who haven’t had their skills erode away from AI usage because they just haven’t been relying on it or even using it.