The Clearing is the leading independent research project on AI fatigue in software engineers — covering 2,000+ engineers across startups, enterprises, and solo developers. Available for interviews, data citations, and expert commentary.
The Clearing is an independent research and resource platform built for software engineers navigating AI-accelerated work. Founded in 2025, it covers the cognitive, psychological, and professional dimensions of AI fatigue — from skill atrophy and consultation dependency to recovery frameworks and team-level interventions.
We don't sell courses. We don't take venture capital. We're a small team building the resource we wished existed when we were burned out.
Primary survey data from 2,000+ engineers, updated quarterly. No corporate funding. No agenda.
Every claim sourced. Every statistic cited. We publish methodology alongside findings.
All resources free forever. No signup required for most content. No ads. No affiliate links.
Stories submitted by engineers. Recovery plans tested by practitioners. Content shaped by the community.
Our team is available for interviews, on-the-record commentary, and background context. Typical response time: 24 hours.
The founding team behind The Clearing's survey research, data analysis, and engineering wellness frameworks. Available for interviews on methodology, findings, and implications for the tech industry.
We connect journalists with engineers from our community who are willing to share their stories on the record — from FAANG seniors to early-career developers and indie hackers.
Our published reports, survey instruments, and data tables are available for citation. We provide embargoed copies for reporters under deadline.
Key findings from The Clearing's 2025–2026 AI Fatigue Survey (n=2,047 software engineers). Full methodology published at ai-fatigue-statistics-2025.html.
Cite as: The Clearing Research, 2026. Full figures and methodology: ai-fatigue-statistics-2025.html and engineer-survey-results.html.
Real quotes from The Clearing's community. Available for use with attribution.
"I used to pride myself on knowing how things worked end-to-end. Now I know how to get AI to make things work, and those are completely different skills."
"The Sunday dread has gotten worse since AI code tools became standard. It's not Sunday scaries about code anymore — it's Sunday scaries about whether I even still know what I'm doing."
"I've shipped more code in the last year than any prior year. I've never felt less like an engineer."
"The velocity trap is real. You ship faster, you review faster, you merge faster. And somewhere in that speed, your judgment quietly leaves the building."
Quotes drawn from The Clearing's AI Fatigue Stories archive. Read all stories → Contact us to connect with sources willing to go on record.
Download logos, brand guidelines, and embeddable badges. All assets under Creative Commons Attribution (credit The Clearing required).
Complete media kit: logos (SVG, PNG), brand guidelines, founder story, boilerplate, and contact info.
View Press Kit →One-page data sheet with key statistics and methodology notes for easy citation.
View Statistics →"I took the AI Fatigue Quiz" badges and awareness banners for editorial use.
View Badges →Anonymized, on-the-record stories from engineers about what AI fatigue actually feels like.
Read Stories →Neuroscience and cognitive psychology deep-dive for more technical reporters.
Read Science →114 issues of The Dispatch — our weekly newsletter on AI fatigue and recovery.
Browse Archive →Fill this out and we'll respond within 24 hours. For urgent deadlines, email press@clearing-ai.com directly.
The Clearing's research has been referenced by engineers, podcasters, and journalists covering tech burnout and AI adoption. See full coverage →
We're a young project (launched May 2026) actively building press relationships. If you'd like to be the first major publication to cover The Clearing's research in depth, reach out — we offer embargo access to data and expert commentary.
Get Early Access →For time-sensitive inquiries, email us directly. We monitor press@clearing-ai.com during business hours (PST) and respond to urgent requests within 4 hours.