TechCrunch writer Russell Brandom argues that Mark Zuckerberg's newly published 6,500-word manifesto on "personal superintelligence" inadvertently illustrates why the public is wary of AI. While the essay is framed as an optimistic vision of how Meta AI's personal intelligence systems could transform society, Brandom contends it repeatedly undercuts itself by highlighting the risks even as it tries to sell the benefits, and that Zuckerberg's poor public standing makes the pitch land badly.

The piece notes that the manifesto largely repeats ideas Zuckerberg has aired before, including in a Wall Street Journal article and on Meta earnings calls, but is the most detailed version yet. Brandom points to Zuckerberg and Facebook's unpopularity as context, citing a survey finding 64% of Americans believe social media has harmed democracy and a similar share want tighter regulation, plus a $567 million fine levied against Meta over the weekend for harm to children. He criticises the essay's vague generalities about intelligence and "competing interests" balancing each other out, and singles out Zuckerberg's education example — promising everyone a personalised AI tutor with a "PhD in every subject" — as out of touch with how AI tools are actually used.