Are We Ready to Admit That the Ambitions of Companies Like OpenAI Are More About Profit Than Humanity’s Benefit?

The Truth About AI Industry: Profit Over Humanity?

In recent years, a common narrative has emerged around artificial intelligence: that it is designed to benefit humanity by solving some of our most pressing issues, from curing cancer to addressing climate change. However, it’s essential to critically examine whether these lofty claims hold water or if they serve as justifications for a much simpler motive—profiteering.

Much like political rhetoric that masks deeper motives, the promises made by AI companies often sound noble but mask underlying corporate agendas. For example, during geopolitical conflicts like the invasion of Ukraine, leaders may claim to act out of moral or humanitarian concern. Yet, history shows that such explanations can be superficial, masking self-interest or strategic territorial gains. Similarly, the AI industry often portrays itself as a benevolent force—aiming to elevate quality of life and solve global problems—while the underlying priority appears to be financial gain.

Let’s be honest: the primary driver for many of these companies is profit. From the start, there’s been a relentless focus on monetizing AI technology, often at the expense of safety and societal well-being. Initially, organizations like OpenAI invested heavily in exploring safe and responsible AI development, with safety teams dedicated to minimizing potential harm. Yet, as soon as scalable large language models (LLMs) proved economically promising, the focus shifted. These models became the primary product—big, powerful, and highly profitable—while security and ethical considerations were scaled back or sidelined.

This pivot wasn’t coincidental. Corporations recognized the immense potential of AI to replace human workers—cutting costs and increasing margins—rather than solely aiming for groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs. Consequently, research into other avenues of AI development slowed or halted, and safety initiatives were dismantled to accelerate deployment. Confidentiality increased, and transparent research was replaced with secretive projects focused on monetization.

The result? An industry that prioritizes profits over people. While these developments may lead to exponential wealth for a handful of corporations, they pose serious threats to everyday lives—displacing jobs, destabilizing communities, and potentially creating a future where AI-driven automation leaves billions unemployed. Meanwhile, claims of affordable healthcare solutions generated by AI seem increasingly distant when many are pushed into poverty and homelessness, especially as AI eliminated countless jobs.

In summary, we should critically question the narrative of noble intentions in AI development. Are these companies truly driven by a desire to enhance human well-being, or are they simply capitalizing on technological advances to amass unimaginable