Requiem for a Species: How AI Destroys Humanity

This opinion piece critiques the current trajectory of Artificial Intelligence development by drawing parallels with the historical evolution of the internet. The author acknowledges the technical strides made by Large Language Models and AI agents but expresses deep concern over the industry's direction. The article reviews the history of the web, starting from ARPANET's defensive origins to the commercialization driven by advertisers in the 1990s, which degraded user experience. It further examines the dot-com bubble burst and the rise of Web 2.0, where social media platforms initially fostered connection but ultimately succumbed to revenue pressures. The author argues that just as social media shifted from community-building to ad-driven engagement models that prioritize profit over user well-being, AI is following a similar destructive path. The narrative suggests that the hype surrounding AI's imminent takeover of software engineering ignores the broader societal costs and ethical implications established by previous tech cycles. The piece serves as a cautionary commentary on how technological advancements, when driven primarily by monetization rather than human benefit, can lead to negative outcomes for humanity.