Quoting Josh W. Comeau

Developer and educator Josh W. Comeau reports a significant decline in sales for his online programming courses. His latest launch is performing at roughly one-third the volume of his typical releases, a trend he observes across his entire catalog. Other independent course creators are reporting similar downturns, with many experiencing revenue drops of 50 percent or more.

Comeau attributes this shift primarily to the rise of artificial intelligence. He identifies two main factors: widespread anxiety about the future of developer jobs, which discourages people from investing in new skills, and the emergence of large language models as accessible, personalized tutors that reduce the need for traditional paid instruction.

This trend highlights a growing tension between independent creators and AI technology. Comeau notes that these models are trained on the work of human educators without their consent or compensation, yet they are simultaneously replacing the demand for the very content they consume. This shift represents a broader challenge for the sustainability of independent educational content in an era where AI tools provide instant, automated alternatives to human-led learning.