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A copywriter claimed AI derailed his once-thriving career, reducing his monthly income from ₹2 lakh to ₹40,000. His story sparked debate and words of encouragement online
A professional copywriter has claimed that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) left his once-successful career in ruins (Image-AI)
A copywriter’s candid account of how artificial intelligence turned his thriving career upside down, reducing his monthly income from ₹2 lakh to just ₹40,000. His emotional post about losing jobs and freelance projects has gone viral, sparking debate over AI’s growing impact on creative professionals.
Sharing his experience on Reddit, the user titled his post, “Went from 2l a month to 40k a month salary; the downfall of a lifetime.” He explained that he had spent years building a successful career despite dropping out of college, only to see his earnings disappear within a matter of weeks.
According to the Redditor, he entered the freelance industry eight years ago and secured his first full-time remote contract when he was just 18. By the age of 22, he said he was earning around ₹2 lakh every month while working remotely. However, he claimed that everything changed in 2026.
“2026 was my curse. Lost all my jobs and projects, and my monthly income came down to literally nothing from the wuthering heights of a 6-figure salary, in a matter of two weeks,” he wrote.
The copywriter said he had worked his way up from scratch to become a lead copywriter by dedicating years to improving his craft. He alleged that the rise of AI eventually cost him his position.
“Until the AI wave crashed in. Well, I was apparently laid off from my job because they decided to train AI and take native employees,” he claimed.
Needing a stable source of income, he accepted a role at a Hyderabad-based agency that currently manages marketing for Telangana Tourism. While he was relieved to find work, he said the salary came as a major disappointment.
“I’m being paid 40k a month, for a role bigger than my previous one, which used to pay me 2 lakhs a month. It makes my heart ache every day,” he wrote.
The Redditor further claimed that he is now among the leads responsible for shaping the agency’s marketing strategy for Telangana Tourism but believes the compensation does not reflect his responsibilities. Apart from the pay cut, he also expressed frustration with what he described as an uninspiring work culture.
“I’m one of the leads spearheading their Telangana Tourism’s marketing strategy. On top of the stinging money issue, people around me are poor on creativity. They work for the sake of working. No love. No passion. That kills my motivation. Even though I do the work of 5 people now. I consider this the biggest downfall in my entire bloodline,” he wrote.
Seeking guidance from fellow Reddit users, he asked how others would deal with feeling underpaid after experiencing a significant career setback.
The post quickly gained attention, with several users offering their perspectives, personal experiences and words of encouragement.
One user wrote, “There’s a reason most of us study hard and get the safe route. Sacrificing the chance of more money though more riskier routes. You took the risk, got lucky and made money when the time is right. But it’s not always gonna be there. Changes happen in every generation and AI was the big change for ours.”
Another user attempted to put the situation into perspective, saying, “Na na, brother. You went from earning ₹0 a month to ₹40k a month. If you had the skills to get someone to pay you ₹2L a month once, those skills haven’t disappeared. I’m sure you’ll be back there before you know it.”
A third commenter related the story to their own experience, writing, “My salary came down 1.2L post a year break due to personal reason. Was jobless for 10 months so took a lesser paying job. A thankless job with having to massage everyone’s ego! Happens, the point is to not lose hope and keep upgrading to jump as soon as good offer appears.”
Another user encouraged the copywriter to remain optimistic and continue developing his skills. “Chill out bro. Stop worrying so much. And don’t worry. A lot of people lie about their income on the internet. A lot of them are also gonna lose their jobs later in life with the advent of AI. Many have gone from 4-5 lpm to 1-2 lpm due to AI. Just upskill, network and you are good to go. Also start freelancing on the side once again.”
August 03, 2026, 07:11 IST
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