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A Bengaluru techie has grabbed attention online after building an unusual AI-powered “I GOT FIRED” button amid growing fears around layoffs in the tech industry.
News18
A Bengaluru-based software engineer has grabbed attention online after showing off a quirky AI-powered “I GOT FIRED” button that he claims could create chaos inside a company with just one click. The idea, shared as a joke mixed with dark workplace humour, came at a time when conversations around layoffs and job insecurity continue to grow in the tech industry.
The post quickly sparked reactions from people across social media, with some calling it funny while others warned about the legal trouble it could cause.
The Post Sparks Reactions
Software engineer Pankaj, who goes by @the2ndfloorguy on X (formerly Twitter), shared a video and photos of the device attached to his laptop.
Explaining the idea behind it, he wrote, “AI layoffs are getting out of hands so I built “I GOT FIRED” button. One click, and it makes entire company codebase public, pushes .env secrets to public repo, drops staging db and finally notifies my lawyer I hope I never need it but it’s ready.”
The images shared with the post showed a small multi-button device connected beside his laptop keyboard. On the laptop screen, different labels could be seen, including “Gaslight Them,” “Decode Corporate BS,” and a red-highlighted option that read “I GOT FIRED.”
One image showed a pop-up notification saying, “.env secrets committed and pushed to public repo.” Another screenshot displayed a second notification that read, “out of office: permanently. contact my lawyer.”
The setup appeared designed like a dramatic emergency switch for frustrated employees, though many users understood it as satire rather than a serious tool.
ai layoffs are getting out of hands so I built “I GOT FIRED” button 🚨one click, and it makes entire company codebase public, pushes .env secrets to public repo, drops staging db and finally notifies my lawyer 🙂
I hope I never need it but it’s ready 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/ThDhM5ataM
— Pankaj (@the2ndfloorguy) May 20, 2026
Internet Joins The Joke
The post quickly gained traction online, with users reacting in a mix of humour, curiosity and criticism.
A user asked, “How can I get these keys in India?” Another joked, “So if you change the AI model provider, the AI will push the button? :P”
Some people mocked the idea altogether. “Sheer wastage of tokens,” a person wrote. Another commented, “Downfall in quality of projects from amazing ones to now engagement farming ones.”
Others imagined the consequences if someone actually used such a device in real life. “Press one button and blow everything up,” a user joked.
A different user warned, “Lol, you would get sued into oblivion if not criminally charged, and have a very tough time finding a new job. Cool thing tho.” Another comment read, “Nice, who needs a salary when you get 3 free meals and a bed in prison!”
The post also reopened conversations around stress in the tech world, especially as layoffs and automation continue to worry many workers in the industry.
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