GoKawiilAI researcher explains shift from optimism to 'doomer' stance on AGI risks
In a personal blog post, the author details how their views on AI evolved from cautious optimism to deep concern, focusing first on economic disruption. They argue that while past automation created more wealth and leisure, a truly general AI that outperforms humans in every domain could eliminate the human economic role entirely, leaving society dependent on universal basic income.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The piece captures a broader anxiety among technologists about AGI's endgame: not just job displacement but a scenario where humans become economically unnecessary, raising political questions about power and dependency. It reflects a growing trend of AI insiders publicly reconsidering their optimism as capabilities advance faster than expected.
- The author previously believed automation history predicted a safe human economic niche post-AGI.
- They now worry true AGI could make humans economically obsolete, not just displaced.
- The post raises political concerns, like a 'permanent underclass' with no leverage if the state doesn't need workers.
Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom — If this author's shift from AI optimist to worrier resonates, Bostrom's Superintelligence is the foundational text laying out the alignment and control problems that drive such changes of mind. It's a dense, rigorous read that maps the very scenarios the post gestures at, from economic displacement to truly general AI.
See Superintelligence by Nick Bostrom on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: borretti.me — Fernando Borretti, 2026-09-07
Published there as: “The Education of a Doomer”
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