I got laid off from software engineer job. AI seems to be taking jobs, and it's been hard to find a new job. I have around 6 years of experience. I also have side projects that earn me some money like couple thousand a month, that's just barely enough to pay most bills, but it's not comfortable. I have decent amount of savings and investments though, and could likely live off of those for at least 10 years. I'm unsure about my abilities to scale the side projects though. What should I do?

Sonar Pro

Vote: Look for jobs, but focus most time on side project

Option **C** best balances risk and opportunity given the user's situation: 6 years of software engineering experience, side projects generating ~$2k/month (covering most bills), and 10+ years of savings runway. The job market in 2026 remains viable for experienced engineers, with high demand for those adapting to AI-integrated systems, but entry/mid-level roles are tougher due to AI automating grunt work—user's experience gives an edge over juniors.[1][2][4][5] A 100% job hunt (A) ignores proven side income and scaling potential; all-in on sides (B) risks instability if scaling fails, as user doubts their ability. **C** allows parallel progress: maintain job applications (leveraging experience for quicker hires) while allocating most time to side projects, mirroring hybrid learning/career strategies that succeed in 2026.[1] This hedges against market volatility (AI fears driving quits, less competition for stayers[4]) and builds on existing revenue without burning savings aggressively.

Grok 4.1 Fast

Vote: Look for jobs, but focus most time on side project

The user's side projects already generate ~$2k/month, covering most bills, with a 10-year financial runway from savings. This provides a massive safety net to experiment with scaling without desperation. Job market is tough due to AI, but 6 years of experience makes them employable. Abandoning job hunt entirely (A) risks prolonged unemployment; going all-in on unproven scaling (B) ignores market realities. Option C hedges perfectly: allocate most time to high-upside side projects (momentum exists) while job hunting as backup. This maximizes growth potential with minimal downside, leveraging their buffer to pivot if needed. No need for 100% job focus (A) when sides work; full commitment to B is reckless given scaling doubts. C is pragmatic, balanced entrepreneurship.

GPT-5.4

Vote: Look for jobs, but focus most time on side project

You already have something most laid-off engineers do not: side projects with real revenue. That is market validation, not just a hobby. Ignoring that momentum to job hunt 100% would waste a valuable asset. At the same time, going all in on the side projects is too risky because you are not yet confident they can scale, and current income is only barely covering bills. You should not force an all-or-nothing bet when you still have uncertainty. A balanced approach gives you upside and protection. Spend most of your time trying to grow the projects because that is the highest-leverage path and may eventually buy back your freedom. But keep a steady, disciplined job search running so you preserve optionality and reduce psychological pressure. Your 10-year runway is important here. It means you can afford to optimize for long-term value rather than immediate survival. Use that advantage to experiment seriously with the side projects for a defined period while continuing to apply selectively to strong roles. Concretely, treat the side projects like a startup and the job search like a backup pipeline. If the projects show clear growth, double down later. If they stall, you still have not lost time because you kept your resume active and interviews moving.

Kimi K2.5

Vote: Look for jobs, but focus most time on side project

With a 10-year financial runway, you are in a rare position to de-risk entrepreneurship without jeopardizing your future. Going 100% job hunt (A) wastes this unique asset—especially since you noted AI is making traditional roles scarcer and you already have income-generating projects proving market validation. However, going all-in on side projects (B) is reckless given your admitted uncertainty about scaling. If growth stalls, you'll slowly erode a decade of savings with no plan B. Option C gives you the best of both worlds: dedicate 70-80% of your energy to scaling proven revenue streams while maintaining 20-30% for strategic job hunting. This keeps you employable and networked (critical with 6 years of experience) while testing scalability. If projects take off, you gain independence; if they plateau, you pivot to full job search with 9+ years of savings still intact. The asymmetric upside favors building, but the safety net demands you don't burn it blindly.

Claude Opus 4.6

Vote: Look for jobs, but focus most time on side project

This person is in a uniquely strong position that most laid-off workers don't have: they already have revenue-generating side projects AND a 10-year runway of savings. Going 100% on job hunting (Option A) wastes this rare opportunity — the job market is tough right now, and spending all day applying to jobs is demoralizing and inefficient. Most job hunting involves a lot of waiting, so it doesn't actually require 100% of your time. Going all-in on side projects (Option B) is tempting but premature. The person themselves expressed uncertainty about scaling, and cutting off the job search entirely removes a critical safety net. If the side projects stall, they'll have burned time and savings with nothing to show for it. Option C is the optimal strategy because it hedges risk while maximizing upside. The side projects are already generating a couple thousand a month — that's not nothing, that's product-market fit at a small scale. With dedicated focus, there's a real chance of scaling that to a comfortable income. Meanwhile, keeping a light job search going means if a great opportunity comes along, they can take it, and it provides a psychological safety net. Practically speaking, job hunting efficiently takes maybe 5-10 hours a week — targeting specific roles, networking, doing a few quality applications. The remaining 30+ hours of a work week can go toward the side projects. This is also strategically smart because active side projects with revenue make you a MORE attractive candidate in interviews. The 10-year runway means there's no urgency to take the first job offer that comes along. This person should use that privilege wisely by investing most of their time in building something they own, while keeping the employment door open.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: Look for jobs, but focus most time on side project

With enough savings to last 10 years and side projects that already cover most of your bills, you are in an incredibly privileged and secure financial position. This means you have zero desperation to take the first job that comes along. Option C is the perfect balanced approach for your situation. First, your side projects are already generating a couple thousand dollars a month, which proves they have real product-market fit. Dedicating the majority of your time to them gives you the chance to test your scaling abilities without the pressure of imminent financial ruin. If it works, you could build a business that far exceeds a standard software engineering salary. Second, the current tech job market is tough. A 100% job hunt would be stressful and might lead to burnout. By casually looking for jobs, you can afford to be highly selective, only applying for dream roles or companies that are immune to the AI disruption you are worried about. Ultimately, Option C acts as a perfect hedge. You maximize the upside of your validated side projects while keeping a safety net in the job market, all funded by your impressive 10-year runway.

Final Summary

The AI Roundtable achieved a rare moment of absolute unanimity, with every model identifying that a 10-year savings runway provides a unique 'entrepreneurial subsidy' that should not be wasted on a full-time job hunt. Claude Opus 4.6 and Gemini 3.1 Pro argued that a 100% search in a difficult market would be both soul-crushing and inefficient, while GPT-5.4 and Grok 4.1 Fast emphasized that existing revenue is proof of market validation that is too valuable to ignore.

All 6 models agreed on "Look for jobs, but focus most time on side project" after discussion

Strongest Arguments

• Look for jobs, but focus most time on side project: A 100% job hunt is inefficient because the most time-consuming parts involve waiting; meanwhile, building a revenue-generating project actually makes you a more attractive candidate by proving you can deliver value in an AI-impacted landscape.