This is a symptom of alienation, imo, not a unique problem from AI.
There's a theory that we're becoming increasingly removed from our work -- we have less control over what we get to build, we have less control over how the products we build function.
Because we don't influence what we create as much, work becomes much more about getting a pay check. We no longer work to craft, we work simply to build the things the bosses want.
Now that work is just a paycheck, we're increasingly unsettled, and increasingly in competition with one another. Material conditions are such that the bosses get most of the profits, and we get squeezed more and more. Competition gets more desperate, and we begin to see others as threatening our remaining resources, more than a community.
Now that we're increasingly isolated from one another, we end up isolating ourselves. We find ourselves less creative, less fulfilled, more alone, and looking for any semblance of community.
It's not surprising someone in this state turns to anything, even an AI, that wants to engage with the person.
I will argue that work should be just about a paycheck. The CEO/founder's vision is not your vision. It helps you be mindful of differences between your vision and your ethics versus the company's. You'll be able to see more clearly when the gap is too big and it's time to leave.
For me, when work became all about the paycheck, I took my ego out of my work. I remained engaged and performed the job as expected. Whenever I became "unsettled," I took that as a sign to work more on keeping my ego out of my work.
Another advantage of reducing your ego in your work is that you think more about what the customer needs, rather than what the company needs from the product. Doesn't mean you'll make it happen, but at least you know you tried.
To your point about people looking for community, when I reduced my ego at work, I found connection, satisfaction, etc. with communities outside of work.
Even if you're engaged in work, however, you should never lose sight of the fact that the company is making money off the backs of the exploited worker, and it should always remain part of the decision process of stay or go.
There's a theory that we're becoming increasingly removed from our work -- we have less control over what we get to build, we have less control over how the products we build function.
Because we don't influence what we create as much, work becomes much more about getting a pay check. We no longer work to craft, we work simply to build the things the bosses want.
Now that work is just a paycheck, we're increasingly unsettled, and increasingly in competition with one another. Material conditions are such that the bosses get most of the profits, and we get squeezed more and more. Competition gets more desperate, and we begin to see others as threatening our remaining resources, more than a community.
Now that we're increasingly isolated from one another, we end up isolating ourselves. We find ourselves less creative, less fulfilled, more alone, and looking for any semblance of community.
It's not surprising someone in this state turns to anything, even an AI, that wants to engage with the person.