I do not think it will shock anyone to learn that big tech is aggressively pushing AI products. But the extent to which they have done so might. The sheer ubiquity of AI means that we take for ground the countless ways, many invisible, that these products and features are foisted on us—and how Silicon Valley companies have systematically designed and deployed AI products onto their existing platforms in an effort to accelerate adoption.

The role of the IC (Individual Contributor) is evolving fast—and AI is accelerating the shift. As AI tools become deeply integrated into development workflows, many engineers find themselves stepping into responsibilities once reserved for engineering managers. This isn’t a hypothetical trend—it’s already happening in high-performing teams.