Debate questions the value of Ed Zittrain’s long-running AI skepticism

Ed Zittrain is characterized as having been bearish on AI for a long time and approaching the three-year anniversary of his “bear posting.” The debate questions whether recurring pessimistic forecasts are useful, while noting that skepticism and optimism can vary over time.

Kevin Roose argues that anyone who has interviewed Zittrain or featured him in the name of AI skepticism has made their audience “dumber and less prepared” for what is coming. Eric Newcomer says Zittrain’s audience follows him. The evidence does not establish whether the criticism of Zittrain’s predictions is accurate; it also raises the view that continuing to make predictions despite being wrong may reflect persistence rather than confidence.