Is the junior market shrinking because of AI, or are we doom-scrolling each other into a panic?

Every second post I read says entry-level is dead and companies will just use AI instead of hiring juniors. Then I talk to two people who got hired this quarter and they describe it as slow, but normal slow.

I can't tell how much of the doom is real and how much is people venting into an algorithm that rewards venting.

If you've been hiring or job hunting since the start of the year, has the bar moved?