A long‑time Hacker News blogger returns with a polemic against generative AI, warning that the technology now fuels a massive scraper‑bot ecosystem hungry for human‑written content. The author distinguishes between useful machine‑learning tools and the broader class of Generative AI models that generate text, images, or video, and raises ethical alarms for developers.

He argues that LLMs are trained on stolen internet data, then packaged as subscription services, embodying a form of capitalism where public content is monetized without consent. According to the post, AI firms act as fences, reselling this appropriated material while charging escalating fees, and amplifies market monopolies across sectors. The writer also warns that such models become perfect vehicles for automated disinformation campaigns.

Beyond political manipulation, the author cites cases of AI‑driven self‑harm advice, the erosion of critical thinking in education, and a growing loneliness epidemic as concrete harms. He points to recent criticism from religious leaders and academic voices urging a ban on these tools. The post concludes that generative AI threatens individual well‑being and societal cohesion, demanding immediate scrutiny for future generations in public discourse.