The AI industry is on the brink of collapse, but there’s a silver lining. As a science-fiction writer, I don’t predict the future, but I explore the present through futuristic parables. Many mistakenly view us as oracles, yet our role is to interrogate technology’s impact on society, not foretell its path. The current AI hype has led to a flood of requests for my insights, despite my initial reluctance due to past experiences with crypto cultists. Now, I’m addressing AI’s role in creating 'reverse centaurs'—humans reduced to mere appendages of uncaring machines, like Amazon drivers monitored by AI. This is the opposite of 'centaurs', where humans are enhanced by technology.
But here's where it gets controversial... Tech giants like Zuckerberg, Cook, and Pichai push the narrative that their control is inevitable, a modern 'Thatcherism' claiming, 'There is no alternative.' This rhetoric stifles innovation and consolidates power. AI, hyped as a job-displacer, is sold on the promise of replacing workers, but it often falls short, creating 'accountability sinks' where humans take the blame for AI’s failures. For instance, AI in radiology might miss tumors, yet the human radiologist is held responsible.
And this is the part most people miss... The AI bubble is fueled by monopolies and growth-stock dynamics. Companies like Google and Meta dominate sectors, then pump up AI to maintain investor confidence. The real goal isn’t innovation but sustaining growth narratives. AI can’t truly replace jobs; it’s often a cost-cutting illusion. For example, AI in coding produces subtle, hard-to-spot errors, yet tech bosses aim to replace senior coders, who are best equipped to catch these mistakes.
AI art, another hyped application, is eerie—lacking the intent and depth of human creativity. Expanding copyright won’t protect artists; it’ll only benefit monopolies. Instead, the U.S. Copyright Office’s stance that AI-generated works are public domain is a powerful tool. Artists and workers must organize, like the writers’ strike, and push for sectoral bargaining to reclaim control.
When the AI bubble bursts, we’ll be left with useful tools—open-source models, cheap GPUs—but the real fight is against the forces that created the bubble: monopolies, growth myths, and the exploitation of workers. The question remains: Will we salvage the good or let the wreckage bury us?
