[bell-cot]

Yes, other motives are possible. Though "get ahead in our attention economy" provides a strong positive feedback loop. And if the trope is very widely circulated, it will find and activate most of its potential Apostles - people who will both strongly believe it, and also zealously try to spread it.

Bigger picture - I see AI as just another bale of straw on the camel's back. Sure, it's possible that AI will end up looking like the fatal bale. But that could come from so much money being invested in AI that we get a global financial meltdown when the AI bubble bursts, leading to a nuclear WWIII.