The primary danger from AI in the coming years may not be the technology itself, but society's inability to cope with the rapid, disorienting change it creates. This could lead to a 'civilizational-scale psychosis' as our biological and social structures fail to keep pace, causing a breakdown in identity and order.

Founders making glib comments about AI likely ending the world, even in jest, creates genuine fear and opposition among the public. This humor backfires, as people facing job automation and rising energy costs question why society is pursuing this technology at all, fueling calls to halt progress.

Unlike previous technologies like the internet or smartphones, which enjoyed years of positive perception before scrutiny, the AI industry immediately faced a PR crisis of its own making. Leaders' early and persistent "AI will kill everyone" narratives, often to attract capital, have framed the public conversation around fear from day one.

AI is experiencing a political backlash from day one, unlike social media's long "honeymoon" period. This is largely self-inflicted, as industry leaders like Sam Altman have used apocalyptic, "it might kill everyone" rhetoric as a marketing tool, creating widespread fear before the benefits are fully realized.

The notable aspect of the Citrini Research piece isn't its dystopian predictions, but its widespread acceptance among investors. Unlike previous 'AI doomer sci-fi,' it's acting as confirmation bias for a market already grappling with AI's disruptive potential. The report's success signals a major shift in 'common knowledge' about AI's socioeconomic risks.

AI leaders often use dystopian language about job loss and world-ending scenarios (“summoning the demon”). While effective for fundraising from investors who are "long demon," this messaging is driving a public backlash by framing AI as an existential threat rather than an empowering tool for humanity.

The most dangerous long-term impact of AI is not economic unemployment, but the stripping away of human meaning and purpose. As AI masters every valuable skill, it will disrupt the core human algorithm of contributing to the group, leading to a collective psychological crisis and societal decay.

A pervasive anxiety is growing in the tech world: the current AI boom might be the final opportunity to amass significant wealth before AI automates value creation, making money effectively worthless. This FOMO is driving a frenzy to get on the "right side" of the AI divide, fearing a future with a permanent, ultra-wealthy tech class.

Unlike other tech rollouts, the AI industry's public narrative has been dominated by vague warnings of disruption rather than clear, tangible benefits for the average person. This communication failure is a key driver of widespread anxiety and opposition.