Hyperwrite CEO Matt Shumer warns in a long post that AI will disrupt society more than COVID-19 and could replace much knowledge work, urging immediate learning of AI skills.

In his opening summary, Shumer argues rapid AI advancement is already reshaping work and could dwarf the COVID era, prompting a call to action to acquire AI proficiency now.

Prominent tech figures and investors publicly validate his warning, underscoring that AI-driven change is already unfolding inside companies.

Shumer says AI can now perform his own technical work and complete analyses in hours rather than days, making effective AI adopters the most valuable in meetings.

The post, titled Something Big Is Happening, has amassed about 40 million views and 18,000 retweets as of February 11, 2026.

The shift is broader than a niche topic, moving into boardrooms, HR discussions, family conversations, and everyday life, signaling a wide societal transformation.

In a LinkedIn post, Shumer says he previously offered safe explanations about AI, but now believes a more alarmed assessment is warranted.

Central claim: AI has progressed to the point of handling Shumer’s own technical work and is transforming workplaces beyond speculation.

Shumer argues current AI models are dramatically more capable than six months ago and urges rapid upskilling to stay valuable, warning the window to adapt is narrow.

He likens the moment to February 2020, citing concurrent AI releases (Anthropic Opus 4.6 and OpenAI GPT-5.3 Codex) as evidence of advancing software engineering capabilities.

Context and reception: He points to these AI releases and a viral essay (tens of millions views) amid a mixed reception that includes praise from tech leaders and concerns about hallucinations.

The discourse features praise from figures like Alexis Ohanian and David Haber, while others flag current limitations such as inaccuracies and hallucinations in tools.