How will the companies that have invested tens of billions of dollars in the infrastructure for artificial intelligence fare when the enshittification hits the fan? That question came in for a lot of attention — and snark — when tech pundits Cory Doctorow and Ed Zitron sat down in Seattle to muse about what’s happening in the world of AI.
Both men know a thing or two about enshittification, the process by which tech offerings gradually turn to crap due to the hunger for profits.
Doctorow’s Seattle stopover was part of a publicity tour for his newly published book on the subject, “Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It.” For Wednesday night’s appearance at the Seattle Public Library, he was paired with Zitron, a public relations specialist, podcaster, and writer who surveys the tech scene with a critical eye.
The way they see it, the bursting of the AI investment bubble is a given. And that’s not by any means a contrarian view. Even Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos have acknowledged that the AI tech sector seems likely to go through some retrenchment, while insisting it will be followed by a resurgence that will bring huge benefits to society.
That’s where Doctorow and Zitron part ways with Nadella and Bezos.
“This cannot succeed,” Zitron said. “On top of the fact that everyone’s unprofitable, it’s not actually that popular, either. ChatGPT is very popular because a lot of people love being driven insane. People will tell you AI’s coming, you must learn AI. The reason it’s not able to do your job is, it’s crap.”
Even if the bubble bursts for good, Doctorow holds out hope that there’d still be some use for the billions of dollars’ worth of AI-boosting chips that have already been purchased for power-gobbling data servers. “If you want to think about a post-AI world, imagine what you would do if GPUs were 10 cents on the dollar, if there were a lot of skilled statisticians looking for work, and if you had a bunch of open-source models that had barely been optimized and had a lot of room at the bottom,” he said.
Zitron is more pessimistic. “The thing that terrifies me about this bubble is, this is not useful infrastructure at all.”
Doctorow defended his vision of a post-AI world by citing a few examples — including AI-augmented search engines that can plow through hours upon hours of podcast audio to find a key quote and whip up a transcript, and AI models that can serve as a backstop when radiologists search through X-rays for signs of cancer.
He also pointed to a nonprofit organization called the Human Rights Data Analysis Group. “They did a project with Innocence Project New Orleans, where they used LLMs [large language models] to identify the linguistic correlates of arrest reports that produced exonerations,” he said. “They used that to analyze a lot more arrest reports than they could otherwise. And they put that on top of a funnel where lawyers and paralegals were able to accelerate their exoneration work.”
When do Doctorow and Zitron think the AI bubble will burst? “No later than Q3 2026,” Zitron said. Doctorow had a less definitive answer.
“I’m a firm believer that the market can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent,” he said. “I would say that the number of foundation models that will be around after the crash very likely could be zero. I’m not saying that it must be zero. You can’t kill an open-source model if people like it and contribute.”
So, what’s a techie to do? “Now is the time to unionize,” Doctorow said. He acknowledged that President Donald Trump’s moves against the National Labor Relations Board have made things more difficult for unions, but insisted that all was not lost for the labor movement.
“Trump thinks that we fired the referee, and so that means all the players have to leave the field,” Doctorow said. “He’s wrong. When you fire the referee, it means there are no more rules, right? And there’s a reason that fascists attack unions first. It’s because the opposite of fascism is solidarity.”
When asked what they would advise the next generation of techies to study, neither tech pundit mentioned computer science. “Finance,” Zitron said. “In all seriousness, finance is not as difficult or complex as it sounds, and indeed, the world runs on money.”
Doctorow passed along the advice he said he gave to his daughter. “If you don’t know what you want to do at university, don’t go to university. Go to college and become an electrician,” he said. “There’s so much work for electricians, and we are going to be solarizing for the next 40 years. It’s like being a plumber, but you don’t have to touch poo.”
He noted that the benefits extended beyond the money. “If you want to learn more, and you like it, you can become an e-eng [electrical engineer],” Doctorow said. “And if you don’t, you can put yourself through college by being an electrician — and learn finance.”
“5 Tips for Healthy Eating on a Budget”
Eating a healthy diet is important for maintaining overall well-being, but it can sometimes feel challenging to do so on a tight budget. However, with a little bit of planning and creativity, it is possible to eat nutritious meals without breaking the bank. Here are some tips for healthy eating on a budget:
1. Plan your meals ahead of time: One of the most effective ways to save money on groceries is to plan your meals in advance. By creating a weekly meal plan, you can make a list of the ingredients you need and avoid buying unnecessary items. This can also help you avoid the temptation of ordering takeout or eating out, which can be much more expensive than cooking at home.
2. Buy in bulk: Buying in bulk is a great way to save money on staple items such as rice, beans, and whole grains. Look for sales and discounts at your local grocery store or consider joining a wholesale club like Costco or Sam’s Club. Buying in bulk not only saves you money, but it also ensures that you always have healthy ingredients on hand for meals.
3. Shop seasonally: Buying fruits and vegetables that are in season is not only cheaper, but also ensures that you are getting the freshest produce available. Visit your local farmers’ market or look for sales at your grocery store to take advantage of seasonal produce. You can also consider freezing or preserving fruits and vegetables to enjoy them throughout the year.
4. Cook at home: Eating out can be expensive, so try to cook at home as much as possible. Cooking your own meals allows you to control the ingredients and portion sizes, which can help you save money and eat healthier. Consider preparing meals in bulk and freezing leftovers for quick and easy meals throughout the week.
5. Use coupons and discounts: Look for coupons and discounts on healthy food items to save money on your grocery bill. Many grocery stores offer digital coupons and loyalty programs that can help you save on your purchases. You can also search for coupons online or in local newspapers to find deals on your favorite healthy products.
By following these tips, you can eat a healthy diet on a budget without sacrificing taste or nutrition. With a little bit of planning and creativity, you can enjoy delicious and nutritious meals while saving money at the same time.
