AI benefits poorly explained, CoreWeave CEO says at Goldman conference

The Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference highlighted a central tension in the AI boom: rapid technological advancement versus public skepticism. CoreWeave's Mike Intrator pointed to a communication failure, suggesting the industry hasn't effectively articulated the societal benefits of data centers. Visa's Ryan McInerney provided concrete evidence of this trust gap, noting consumers are hesitant to let AI agents handle payments, slowing progress in agentic commerce.

This cautious public sentiment contrasts sharply with the internal industry race. The resignation of researcher Jacob Coxon from Anthropic serves as a stark warning from an insider about the potential dangers of superintelligent systems. His public statements amplify fears, even as companies like CrowdStrike frame AI as a tool to be harnessed safely. The conference also addressed more traditional disruptions in broadband and streaming, but the overarching narrative was the challenge of managing AI's transformative and potentially frightening impact.

The industry's ability to bridge this trust deficit appears critical. The path forward may hinge on whether leaders can clearly demonstrate AI's tangible benefits to individuals and governments, addressing the specific fears about rapid change. For companies like Visa, the near-term test is whether consumer confidence in agentic systems can be built, while for the broader tech sector, the challenge lies in navigating public opposition while continuing to innovate. The stakes involve not just adoption rates but also the social license to build the infrastructure for the next technological era.