AI doom as a power play

The article advances the claim that apocalyptic rhetoric about future artificial intelligence can be deployed tactically by well‑connected actors (research leaders, donors, ideological networks) to accelerate regulatory change, capture funding, or consolidate influence rather than solely to inform public safety. This reframes some high‑profile safety appeals as potential strategic communications, not just technical warnings. — If true, it shifts how regulators, journalists, and funders should treat extreme AI‑risk claims — demanding clearer provenance, incentives disclosure, and institutional safeguards against narrative capture.