AI companies will fail. We can salvage something from the wreckage | Cory Doctorow
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/18/tech-ai-bubble-burst-reverse-centaur
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/18/tech-ai-bubble-burst-reverse-centaur
17 Comments
Shameless@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 212d
I've seen multiple articles over the past few days, I seriously hope we are now seeing the downfall of AI. I seriously hope we can return back to creating meaningful technology.
sexy_peach@feddit.org · 19 pts · 211d
I think it's going to take a bit longer for the downfall of AI
sexy_peach@feddit.org · 21 pts · 212d
This is a good read even if you're not a fan of doctorow yet.
Like another commenter said, his thoughts about centaurs and reverse centaurs are cool (basically whether you use technology or technology uses you).
Also his thoughts about copyright and if it would be good to reinforce it are interesting - he says that artists won't be paid well if their art can't be stolen for AI training, their contracts will be adjusted and that's it. He says what gives bargaining power is the fact that the output of LLMs can't be copyrighted, which means that human artists have to be in the loop of making tomorrows media.
very_well_lost@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 211d
That may be the status quo right now, but I expect tech and media companies will fight tooth and nail to gain copyright protections over the slop they generate. A few
bribesdonations to the right politicians and you can get legislation that grants whatever rights you want.e461h@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 211d
Assuming it actually becomes valuable/profitable at some point.
edible_funk@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 211d
I agree with him in general about AI but hot goddamn the man gives serious self-described philosopher/cult leader/grifter vibes out the wazoo.
XLE@piefed.social · 3 pts · 211d
How's that?
AI bros do venerate science-fiction writers an unhealthy amount. Fictional fearmongering like "AI2027" is taken as fact, an actual AI doomsday cult leader has no credentials except publishing fantasy fiction, people like Neal Stephenson are treated almost as prophets etc... So if that's the bit of the article you take issue with, I don't think it's a problem
sexy_peach@feddit.org · 1 pts · 211d
I agree somewhat, but I think it's just that he's US-american, they can be like that
hamsterkill@lemmy.sdf.org · 2 pts · 211d
Doctorow is Canadian-British.
big_slap@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 211d
im happy Microsoft dumped all their chips into AI. gonna be fantastic when it goes sideways
LSNLDN@slrpnk.net · 6 pts · 211d
What do you predict, cheap second hand tech or just watching it all fall apart with some popcorn?
Codilingus@sh.itjust.works · 15 pts · 211d
Government bail outs. 🥲
LSNLDN@slrpnk.net · 5 pts · 211d
Ooooft 🎯
e461h@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 211d
100%. Stock will go up cuz we’ll pay the price. Execs will all get bonuses for their brilliant strategy.
XLE@piefed.social · 3 pts · 211d
On the bright side: The government can't afford to bail out something this big with no purpose.
big_slap@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 211d
MoonManKipper@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 212d
The point about centaurs is good too