That's basically what they're doing already. LLMs are massively subsidized by the tech companies in that they cost more to operate than users actually pay. The companies are doing that because people would balk at the price if it were commensurate to what the company actually spent on developing and hosting the algorithm.
They want to get everyone addicted to using LLMs first, then once people can't run their daily lives without asking Claude what groceries they were supposed to pick up and other companies become reliant on AI employees, the companies will raise the prices enough so that they actually turn a profit. People will have to pay it because at that point they'll be dependent, and the AI employees will suddenly cost more than the human that used to do the job.
4 - the Matrix. Not people as batteries, but to solve the AI energy scarcity. Human brains are incredibly energy efficient, running on ~20 watts. So they rent out brain space to run AI algorithms. And everyone gets a job!
This is the path we're on. Unprofitable AI companies disrupting the labor market and convincing companies to lay people off. Then they will hit companies with insane charges to keep using AI because they know companies saw dollar signs when they slashed payrolls. Companies wake up to realize AI does dogshit work and costs blisteringly more than they expected. AI bubble pops but everyone's out of work so, boom, instant recession.
This, and 'flattening the corporate structure' are the most destructive trends in corporate America, in my limited opinion. Middle class keeps getting wrecked while VC and CEO pay are going gangbusters.
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u/StrugglingOrthopod 6h ago
Came for the comedy, stayed for the reality check.