The Claims That "A.I. Will Kill Us All" Are Sounding Awfully Convenient

This article is from Big Technology, a newsletter by Alex Kantrowitz. Shortly after ChatGPT's release last year, a cadre of critics captured headlines and made noise on social media claiming that A.I. would soon kill us. As wondrous as a computer speaking in natural language might be, it could use that intelligence to level the planet. The thinking went mainstream via letters calling for research pauses and 60 Minutes interviews amplifying existential concerns. Leaders like Barack Obama publicly worried about A.I. autonomously hacking the financial system--or worse.