The semantically significant bit is "technology" and that is what is tripping up the "mah local model" group.

Technology develops as the result of focused application of capital and shaping the evolution of that technology to serve the interest of that capital. The driving force behind AI -- when ranked according to impact and significance -- is being funded by surveillance capitalists. In that sense one can say "AI is fundamentally a surveillance technology".

AI and Capitalism are a toxic mix, in my opinion.