What will happen when the AI bubble bursts? (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by deadymouse@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I heard that there would be a new Great Depression.

I've also heard a lot of different theories, and one of them interested me: after the bursting of the bubble, AI will not disappear anywhere, is it in vain that so many data centers were built? AI will be embedded everywhere, people won't even be able to test how it works, "it works somehow, great!" because all human workers will be fired, not at once, of course, but gradually, In a few years, about 2-7 years to be exact(depending on the industry). And because of this, AI systems will begin to get out of control, this will cause incorrect diagnoses, failures in the banking system, arresting or killing innocent people by drones, and so on.

The reason I've explained this so poorly is because, in the first place, the topic of AI and the debate around it is terribly infuriating to me, and it's obvious that the harm from AI won't be able to compensate for the little benefit it will bring. Secondly, I use a translator, so my text may seem crooked, unnatural, or silly.

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[-] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.cafe 1 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

Now, this is the point where I disagree: if it is possible with today's tech, why is it not happening? Why is automation limited to repeatetive tasks and stuff like self checkout?

They have the tech right now. My local news even ran a little disguised Chipotle PR video showing their new robotic burrito bowl machine, as the news anchors oohed and aahed over what was essentially a propaganda ad.

So Chipotle already has it, and every other fast food outlet is either working on it, or has it - and has for a long time. They've been salivating for this moment for decades. There are only two things holding it up:

The tech isn't quite ready: It is, but it it isn't. It's ready to be fully tested on the public, and that's when it will finally get fully perfected. They've gone as far as they can without actually installing it. Now they need real world scenarios.
It will be a PR nightmare. The first fast food chain to announce a fully robotic store is going to get savaged, including a massive national boycott, one that I will happily join. But once one company does it, and the dust settles a bit, the others will do it, too.

The next stage will be when someone announces that their entire company will be mostly automated, probably a fast food operation again. That will result in an even stronger boycott that may even bankrupt the company. It will certainly take a serious hit, but someone will make the calculation that the short-term PR risk is worth the long-term profits.

We are in the calm before the storm. We can see it on the horizon, and we can see how big and ferocious it will be. The job environment after the full implementation of AI, is going to get really bad. Saying that it won't be so bad, that the approaching maelstrom won't kill EVERYBODY, isn't comforting.

this post was submitted on 11 May 2026

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