All I’m doing here is extrapolating based on current trends. I’m not saying the future has to be this way, but likely will be unless we take action. Social media didn’t have to ruin our social lives, but for many it did and still does and the awareness isn’t enough.

Same will be true of AI. Our AI ethics development hasn’t been enough to stop what will at least be short term damage. Thats how it is already impacting our schools and media and will continue to for years before we have proper tools.

So since I have a decent base for saying that it will harm our socialization and reproduction rate, the second part is why do we need more people?

We don’t. I agree. Less people is probably better and fine, especially if AI can do a lot of the work. The problem is that we aren’t set up for that and we won’t be in the near future. So yes I hope the world transitions to rely less on having more people, but the problem will likely arrive long before the solution.