Fear of sharing AI opinions in the workplace

I try not to write or even think much about AI because I find it so … ugh. But this struck me. From Anil Dash’s post, The Majority AI View, which I found in Nicolas’s May links: One of the reasons we don’t hear about [the more] popular, moderate view on AI within the tech industry is because people are afraid to say it. Mid-level managers and individual workers who know this is the common-sense view on AI are concerned that simply saying that they think AI is a normal technology like any other, and should be subject to the same critiques and controls, and be viewed with the same skepticism and care, fear for their careers. People worry that not being seen as mindless, uncritical AI cheerleaders will be a career-limiting move in the current environment of enforced conformity within tech… (Emphasis added.) As a manager at a BigCo, I feel this, big time, and admit my cowardice. It’s not a feeling I’ve ever had before in my career, and it’s not a great one. That said, I am optimistic that…