An AI lawyer and author who pioneered copyright lawsuits against generative-AI companies argues that media predictions about AI catastrophe rely too heavily on sci-fi scenarios rather than realistic policy concerns. The author critiques proposed solutions like global AI bans and investigative approaches as impractical given massive economic investments and international coordination challenges.
Drawing parallels to anthropologist Joseph Tainter's theory of societal collapse, the article argues that software systems suffer from the same problem: complexity that initially provides benefits but eventually becomes counterproductive. As systems grow unwieldy, organizations typically resort to complete system overhauls rather than incremental improvements, a cycle that may become unsustainable if economic conditions force workforce contractions.