A science-fiction writer argues that the AI bubble is a monopolist's last resort to maintain growth stock valuations. Tech giants like Google and Meta, having conquered their sectors, now pump AI hype to avoid a market reckoning. This mirrors past bubbles like crypto and the metaverse, driven by a desperate need to appear endlessly expanding.

The core issue creates an army of reverse centaurs—humans serving machine demands. Think Amazon drivers monitored by AI cameras. While some tools could assist people, the author contends their true purpose is to create these subservient roles. This serves monopolists who, like Thatcher, claim "there is no alternative" to their control.

When a dominant firm's growth stalls, its stock value plummets, triggering a talent exodus. To prevent this, companies must perpetually invent new bubbles. The fight against harmful AI isn't about the technology itself, but the monopolistic structures that exploit it. The future depends on imagining alternatives to this extractive model.