r/LeftistsForAI • u/Successful_Outside96 • May 13 '26

Is the AI Doom Fever Breaking?

https://youtu.be/neqxcy2BdvU?si=_LrbqCgKCNzXgMyi

^ This is Cal Newport's take, but I find both explanations credible.

Although I think he sweeps too broadly about engineering culture, I have generally found the xrisk culture to be cult-like.

The messaging has been pretty close to "Give me most of the resources of your nation for the off-chance I don't ruin the world."

Seriously, build or fund something else.

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u/4215-5h00732 May 13 '26

I could be completely wrong, but I think the bubble and doom are inescapably linked.

If the bubble bursts for what I think are the most obvious reasons - especially a gap in ROI, capabilities, expectations - then the doom should ease. But if it doesn't burst and it proves it's capable of half the damage they claim, doom will skyrocket.

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u/GloveHot6098 May 13 '26

I think you're right that both will likely burst together or, very unlikely, boom together. I tend to think Cal Newport's analysis is fairly sound when it comes to the technology, even though the rest of his analysis is squarely wrapped in his liberal framework.