Why AI companies want you to be afraid of them

3 hours ago

AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI warn the public about the apocalyptic dangers of their own advanced AI models, such as Claude Mythos, claiming they could lead to severe cybersecurity threats or even human extinction.
Critics argue this fear-based marketing distracts from current harms caused by AI, such as environmental damage, labor exploitation, and social issues, while boosting stock prices and positioning these companies as indispensable guardians against imaginary threats.
Executives like Sam Altman and Dario Amodei have a history of making unsubstantiated claims about AI's dangers and utopian promises, often reversing decisions (e.g., releasing previously restricted models) and using apocalyptic narratives to evade regulation and consolidate power.
Despite grandiose claims, experts question the validity of AI capabilities, citing lack of evidence (e.g., false positive rates for Mythos) and noting that these companies have abandoned earlier safety commitments in pursuit of profit and market dominance.
The narrative of AI as either a demon or messiah undermines practical governance, making regulation seem futile and shifting public reliance to the companies themselves, even as they fail to address proven risks like deepfakes, mental health impacts, and climate costs.

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