Is "the web," whatever that may actually mean--I don't pretend to understand its mechanics, truly a timeless blank canvas painted by the brush strokes of millions or billions of participants, or is it subject to the influence of those who provide the infrastructure for its existence? I suspect that Google, NYT, Amazon, etc have the censoring power to control not just the narratives that they pursue through affiliated portals, but the brush strokes themselves. If I'm wrong about this, and I hope I am, then perhaps a true, unbiased and unhindered AI would be useful.

Either way, I see AI's downside as a more articulated source of propaganda. I didn't trust the National Enquirer for serious news as a kid, I don't trust Wikipedia as an adult, and I won't trust AI once it comes to dominate narrative-making either. To the extent that AI can be useful occasionally, we'll take wins where we can.