Also we live in an attention age and doomerism is popular on pretty much all sides. If you wanna piss of people tell them to chill out. I've experienced a lot of this. 

Our AI is so amazing we are afraid it will become self aware and so we want DC to regulate it. Its so transparent to me that this is a scam. AGI has been right around the corner for a few years now. 

Its not all rainbows and ponies but we aren't gonna end the world with AI. Its hogwash. 

kepford

Are The Men Who Know Most The Most Gloomy?

In the case of people like Musk and Altman, I think they benefit from doomerism because it makes their product look powerful and impressive -- who wouldn't pay $20 / month for a thing that could end the world?

For the academics, they're advertising themselves: predicting doom is exciting and thrilling. Saying AI isn't that interesting or that it won't live up to the hype is not going to get you featured in newspapers. Saying we're playing with fire and we could all die tomorrow with some citations and a concerned frown can get you on a front page.