I think you've missed the point of the article. It's not completely about AI per se, but about the broader issue of technology in general bringing us to new territory with respect to the ability to control and/or manipulate society, which could have disastrous unintended consequences.

Therefore, we need to be proactive about policies that would protect against unfettered influence by those controlling the technology.

You've said the equivalent of "guns don't kill people. People kill people".