The Year Silicon Valley Buried AI Apocalypse Fears
In 2024, Silicon Valley shifted the narrative away from AI doom by promoting the economic benefits of generative AI, silencing calls for regulation and catastrophic risk mitigation. Despite warnings from prominent figures and regulatory efforts like California’s SB 1047, the tech industry rallied to oppose restrictions, emphasizing innovation and growth.
Maxwell Zeff writes for TechCrunch
But in 2024, those warning calls were drowned out by a practical and prosperous vision of generative AI promoted by the tech industry – a vision that also benefited their wallets.
Governor Gavin Newsom ultimately vetoed the bill, reflecting a broader trend where concerns over AI's existential threats were eclipsed by the push for technological advancement and profit.