For those interested in the subject of autonomy of weapons, Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War by Paul Scharre[1] is an excellent book.
Genuinely curious... What is wrong in craving impact? Why does it feel like a buzzword to you? I like to think my impact drives me. I doubt I would have cared about it as much if I wasn't financially comfortable. But I am not rich by any measure. But 'impact', quality of work and the people I work with is still what I prioritize while looking for a job.