Bengaluru engineer learns AI as role changes, lands new job with 100% salary hike

Workplaces are changing quickly, and most people can already see it happening. AI is no longer just a future idea or a fancy office term. It is slowly becoming part of everyday work, often without people even realising it.

Tasks that once needed big teams are now being done faster, with fewer people, and sometimes just with the help of AI tools.One software engineer from Bengaluru saw this shift up close. What happened to him shows how learning new skills, especially around AI, can turn a worrying phase into an unexpected career jump.

When the job slowly changed

The engineer had over eight years of experience working on backend systems. He knew his work well and had built a solid career around it.

But over time, things began to change at his company. Teams got smaller, and AI tools started doing more of the heavy lifting.Around him, many believed AI could never truly replace engineers. It was seen as a helper, nothing more. “Vibe coding” was often dismissed as a trend that could not compete with real experience. But quietly, the nature of the work was already shifting.

Choosing to learn instead of complain

Rather than feeling stuck or venting online, he made a different choice.

He decided to understand what was actually happening. Over the next year, he spent time learning AI properly. Not just basic prompts or social media trends, but the deeper stuff like large language models, embeddings, AI agents, system limits, and how real products are built using these tools.That effort paid off. He moved into a new role that still valued his engineering background but also needed his new AI skills.

The change came with a big surprise. His salary doubled.

Why people online are relating to this

The story was shared by his cousin on social media, and it struck a chord. Many people said it felt familiar. One user commented, “This is actually happening everywhere right now.”Another wrote, “Code is the result of thinking. AI only accelerates the writing part.”The takeaway is clear. AI is no longer sitting quietly in the background. It is changing job roles, shrinking teams, and reshaping careers. For those willing to learn and adapt, it is not just a challenge. It can also be an opportunity.Disclaimer: This article is based on a social media post. The authenticity of the claims has not been independently verified by The Times of India.Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)