I’m putting this here as a prediction. I want to be wrong about this. The AI firms demanding a slowdown on development is in direct contradiction with past behavior of these companies and their leadership. AI firms have consistently focused solely on the growth of their own company valuations by any means necessary. What they have done is make very large capital commitments based on predictions of future revenue that stretch credulity. I believe that the call for slowdowns and especially government regulation, is motivated by these companies’ realization that they cannot possibly meet these financial obligations. They are hoping to cancel contracts, claiming: “the laws have limited our ability to achieve our revenue expectations. So we can’t be held responsible for these large contracts we signed.” This tactical move will keep investment money flowing in for AI companies from investors who were worried about the level of risk investing in AI. It will be seen by the markets as a smart financial move and enable the AI companies to continue today’s status quo, rather than face the financial ruin present in their current business models and dealings. I worry for the long-term viability of suppliers to AI companies who have made their own large (and even existentially risky) capital commitments based on their contracts with these AI companies. It’s these suppliers that will be left to deal with the financial aftermath of the AI companies’ pullback. Please let me be wrong about this.