We're living in an AI twilight zone

Two seemingly contradictory realities are true at once: Most people find AI only modestly useful, a more clever Google search.

Many people building AI or using it obsessively worry it could severely damage or destroy humanity.

Why it matters: We're living in an AI twilight zone.

For many, the technology is simultaneously underwhelming in daily use and terrifying in its trajectory.

The gap between these two realities helps explain why confusion and fear are exploding across politics, AI labs and business.

State of play: The AI labs are in full panic.

They worry the public dislikes AI and despises data centers — and that's before Anthropic insiders went public with their latest warnings that AI could end humanity this decade.

They're uncertain how to showcase potential benefits of AI when X and now mainstream media are lit up with horror stories about rogue or ruinous AI.

The data center backlash showed how fast public opinion turned against them.

Their worst-case scenario: They lose full control of the politics, with both parties rushing to slow or stop AI in the run-up to the election.

Between the lines: The past 36 hours show how fast politics and public opinion are moving.

A low-level Anthropic employee for all of four months drove the national conversation — and 142 million views on X alone — by warning AI could end humanity.

Numerous people, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, have issued similar warnings to us for years.

But the tone and timing struck a nerve — and stirred countless members of Congress to call for new AI regulations.