A widely shared essay by Matt Shumer, co-founder and CEO of OthersideAI and HyperWrite, has sparked a social media storm by framing the current moment in artificial intelligence as a “February 2020 moment” — a tipping point many people don’t yet recognise but one that could suddenly reshape society and work. Shumer’s piece, titled “Something Big Is Happening,” was originally posted on X and then adapted into a Fortune commentary, rapidly amassing tens of millions of views as readers debated its warning about AI’s accelerating capabilities and broad impact.
In the essay, Shumer argues that recent advances in AI models have fundamentally changed what these systems can do, moving beyond simple assistance to performing complex cognitive work autonomously, such as coding, research, analysis, and problem-solving. He draws a parallel to early 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic spread globally — when many dismissed early reports as exaggerated — saying mainstream perception of AI today is similarly too complacent even though deep changes are already underway.
Shumer cautions that this technological shift won’t unfold on decades-long timelines like previous revolutions but in months or a few years, and that the consequences might be felt across white-collar jobs in law, finance, engineering, and knowledge work far sooner than widely expected. While he stresses that his intent is not to scare people, he urges readers to engage with AI tools now, upskill, and rethink career strategies rather than remain unprepared.
The essay has triggered mixed reactions across the tech community and broader public. Some industry leaders praised it as a wake-up call about accelerating AI adoption, while critics labelled parts of Shumer’s analysis as overly urgent or based on contested assumptions about autonomy and job displacement. Nonetheless, the viral spread of “Something Big Is Happening” reflects growing public debate about how quickly AI could alter economic structures and everyday work.
