Is it time to stop believing that corporations like OpenAI have humanity’s best interests at heart and accept that their true aim is simply profit?

The Overhyped Promises of AI: Are Humanity’s Grand Challenges Just a Business Strategy?

In recent years, there’s been a persistent narrative suggesting that artificial intelligence is the key to solving humanity’s most pressing issues—curing cancer, combating climate change, eradicating poverty. These claims are frequently touted by tech giants and industry leaders, painting a picture of AI as a benevolent force destined to uplift society. But is this portrayal grounded in reality, or is it ultimately just a clever facade for profit maximization?

It’s worth taking a step back and examining the motivations behind these lofty promises. History shows us patterns of similar narratives used to justify aggressive actions—most notably, during the invasion of Ukraine, authorities claimed they were protecting Russian minorities, while the true aim was territorial expansion and resource control. Similarly, many corporations and industry figures claim their motives are altruistic, insisting they are non-profit entities dedicated to advancing human well-being. They argue that future advancements will render money obsolete, ushering in a post-scarcity era of abundance and equality.

However, the core of the AI industry’s evolution tells a different story. Initially, many organizations invested in careful, safety-oriented research, aiming to develop AI responsibly and ethically. Teams dedicated to ensuring safe deployment worked diligently to minimize potential harms. Yet, as the potential for monetary gain became apparent, priorities shifted dramatically. The focus increasingly centered on scaling large language models—feeding vast datasets into ever-larger models that could be monetized quickly by big corporations.

In this pursuit, safety and ethical considerations were often sidelined or hastily discarded altogether. Safety teams were dismantled, and transparency was sacrificed in favor of confidential, proprietary developments. The industry effectively abandoned slow, responsible progress in favor of rapid commercialization—driven by the vision of replacing human workers and maximizing profits rather than solving societal problems.

This relentless push for profitability means that the real drivers behind AI advancements are now centered on cost-cutting and workforce automation, not curing diseases or protecting our planet. Instead of fostering innovations that could benefit everyone, the industry’s focus is on monetizing AI at any expense—often at the expense of millions of jobs and livelihoods. The consequence? A growing divide where AI’s promise of a better future is overshadowed by economic disparities and social upheaval.

And what about affordable healthcare innovations, like AI-designed drugs that could cure illnesses for a fraction of current costs? The reality is grim—while AI could potentially revolutionize medicine, the economic