But its core assertion is that AI companies intend to lock down control of LLMs through market forces, legislation, and cronyism, to ensure humans can only use them through the AI company walled garden. They want to control the tech, not permit the people to use it freely.
The goal is to stop the walled garden from forming, not to stop LLMs. Yes governments and good humans and bad humans will all use LLMs and cause harm, but LLMs are out and can't be undone. That's another topic, people argue endlessly over that topic already. im not weighing in there with this essay.
This essay says "hey, these companies are literally refining a product that is rental replacement versions of your job, and greedy ass business owners are definitely going to pay rent instead of pay you."
that should be terrifying to ALL of us. Its just software engineers being hit first, but that is because software is easily verifiable (verifiability being a significant requirement for today's LLMs to succeed).
regarding addiction, the government steps in to create laws around addictive substances, but it takes a LONG time for that to happen. ever heard of "gas station drugs"? the government cant keep up. social media companies have fucked us all over by deliberately refining their products for addiction (they call it engagement), and they're just now being tried for some of the harm. 10 years later.
AI is coming so fucking fast that our already weak and barely competent policy makers have no hope of keeping up. AI slop applies to policy too.
There should be fucking alarm bells ringing everywhere. regulatory capture and cronyism at AI speed is a new fucking threat to humanity, and were all just like ok with it? were arguing about tractors and how people have the right to make their own choices?
if my essay was too soft that is my fault. im a new writer and i failed to communicate my thesis well.
but the message i meant to portray is that AI wont kill people, but fucking AI companies will destroy humanity so they can get paid, and they have a unique and new tool that we as a species barely understand, and cannot defend against, and theyre charging the giant fucking deathstar up right the fuck now and pointing it directly at each and every one of us, and no one seems to give a shit.