The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is bringing about fundamental changes in programmers’ professional development and learning habits. The purpose of this study is to explore the correlations between fear of AI and willingness to learn, based on data from Stack Overflow’s 2023–2024 developer surveys. “AI fear” includes not only the fear of losing one’s job but also includes a decrease in intrinsic motivation, including a lack of new knowledge, learning, and professional development. During the research, respondents’ technological experiences, future plans and usage habits of AI tools are analyzed, taking into account geographical and demographic factors as well. The analysis uses quantitative methods, using statistical tools to examine correlations between willingness to learn and AI fear. The findings provide new insights into the extent to which AI fear and the use of AI tools affect programmers’ motivation to learn. The aim of the research is to provide practical guidance for the development of education and training programs and the development of AI-based labor market strategies.