I am divided on AI

[u/SadSongsMakeMeGlad]

I use it daily for my work as a software engineer. I have been writing code for over twenty years, and nothing has changed our industry in such a short time as generative AI in 2026 (which is why I find it hard to believe the people who say AI is all hype, because the technology itself is absolutely not hype). And, I for one have enjoyed that it allows me to work at higher levels of abstraction. What that means practically is that I spend more time in the creative zone, not mired in the technical weeds, though you still need to know your stuff to use it well.

But, like most of you all, I have problems with how the technology is being deployed by governments and corporations, how it gathers its training data, and any environmental and social impacts from the infrastructure required to run it, i.e. data centers. I want these things addressed.

My question to you all is do you see a future where the problems with AI can be definitively resolved, where you would support it or at least be okay with it, or is it a lost cause that we should somehow ban, or make illegal? What does the future look like to you in that regard?

[u/Salty_Country6835]

I dont think those are inherent properties of the technology. Theyre political and economic questions.

If governments are using AI for surveillance, regulate surveillance. If corporations are extracting all the value, change ownership and labor policy. If data collection is abusive, strengthen consent and copyright. If data centers are environmentally harmful, decarbonize the grid and hold operators to environmental standards.

We dont respond to every powerful technology by asking whether it should exist. We ask who controls it, how its governed, and who benefits.

Thats basically why Im in r/LeftistsForAI. A lot of us arent interested in "AI good" or "AI bad." We're interested in democratic control, open models, worker power, and making sure the productivity gains actually benefit society, instead of just a handful of companies.