A 401(k) is just a backup plan for a world that might not exist
A former Google engineer’s financial decision reflects a grim view of AI’s future.

The story
Nate Soares, a former Google engineer, hasn't contributed to his 401(k) in a decade due to his belief that AI will likely kill all humans before retirement age.
Source: fortune.com
Our reading
Nate Soares has stopped contributing to his 401(k) because he thinks AI will kill everyone before he retires. That’s a level of financial planning that only makes sense if you’re also planning for the end of civilization.
His 401(k) is now a relic of a world that might not exist, a savings account for a future that’s been canceled. The irony is that the only thing he’s really investing in is the possibility of no future at all.
Soares’s 401(k) is now a symbol of a man who’s betting against time—and maybe against humanity itself.