How tech workers actually feel about AI in 2026 | Annual AI sentiment survey (Noam Segal)

The tech workforce is currently experiencing a profound bifurcation, with AI acting as a primary driver of professional identity shifts. Half of tech workers feel amplified by new tools, while the other half report feeling destabilized or diminished. This divide correlates with a surge in burnout, which now affects over 54% of the industry, alongside a decline in career optimism. Contrary to common fears of total displacement, the most pervasive anxiety is the expectation to increase output for stagnant pay. Manager effectiveness remains the most significant lever for employee well-being, yet only 25% of workers rate their managers as highly effective. As the industry navigates this period of rapid change, the pressure to maintain high velocity while managing cognitive rot and skill atrophy has created a climate of "smiling exhaustion" across various roles.