Midjourney founder says new AI coding tools are leaving his friends more productive — and 'extremely drained'

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, programmers are experiencing a mix of exhilaration and fatigue. David Holz, the founder of Midjourney, recently expressed this sentiment in a post on X, highlighting the duality felt by many in the tech community. Holz described how his peers are feeling not only highly productive but also 'extremely drained' by the latest coding models. He articulated a concern that this overwhelming productivity might signal deeper issues, while also hinting at potential opportunities for improvement. His post prompted an outpouring of responses from fellow engineers seeking solutions to manage their daily workloads more effectively. Among the contributors was Shuming Hu, a former engineer at Meta, who noted that 'vibe coding' doesn’t facilitate a productive flow state. Catherine Wu, head of product for Claude Code at Anthropic, shared her preference for focusing intensely on a single task, rather than juggling multiple agents, to achieve better results. Brandon Kainoa Jacoby, a designer with experience at X and Cash App, warned that the current situation might worsen before it improves. He suggested that taking breaks from AI tools could be beneficial, as he found that engaging in deep cognitive tasks away from technology provided some relief. As engineers increasingly integrate AI into their workflows, the phenomenon of AI fatigue is becoming a pressing concern. Notably, in February, programmer Siddhant Khare highlighted this issue in a viral essay, pointing out that many feel paralyzed by the relentless pace of technological advancements. The desire to keep up is driving coders to work longer hours, often leading to burnout. Serial entrepreneur Ben South echoed this sentiment, revealing that even a brief rest feels like wasted productivity. As the dialogue around AI tools continues, the challenge remains: how can programmers harness the benefits of these technologies without succumbing to exhaustion?