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| Photo by Fernanda Buendia at Pexels |
Everyone has a different take on what AI is and what it means for us.
Some think it’s the greatest invention of our time. Others not so much. Over time, a handful of patterns have started to emerge. Different groups, different mindsets.
Each one says something not just about AI, but about how we see ourselves.
Here are seven of the main ones.
1. The Rationalists
This group is deeply concerned with keeping AI safe. They believe we’re building something incredibly powerful, maybe even dangerous if we’re not careful. Their focus is on control, alignment, and long-term thinking. They want guardrails in place before it’s too late. It’s not fear exactly, but a kind of protective foresight.
Key Idea: AI is potentially the most powerful invention humanity will ever create, and we must align it with human values to avoid existential catastrophe.
Tone: Cautious, mathematical, future-focused.
2. The Accelerationists
For these folks, AI is a rocket ship. The faster we go, the faster we solve the world’s biggest problems. Climate change, disease, even death. They believe in progress, momentum, and bold thinking. If something breaks along the way, we’ll fix it. That’s their approach.
Key Idea: AI is an incredible tool for progress, and the faster we develop it, the faster we solve humanity’s biggest problems.
Tone: Bold, ambitious, entrepreneurial.
3. The Skeptics
Grounded and alert, this group pays attention to what AI is already doing. Who’s being harmed? Who’s being left behind? They talk about bias, surveillance, exploitation, and power. They don’t want to stop the tech entirely. They just want it built with real accountability.
Key Idea: The harms of AI (bias, misinformation, surveillance, labor disruption) outweigh the benefits unless we put strong guardrails in place.
Tone: Cautious, human-centered, ethical.
