Consensus theory: If AGI then superintelligence.

AI CapEx plans are not ROI based. Rather, they are the cost of "how do I remain competitive in the race to attain AGI" coupled with conveniently deep pockets. The money is being spent because the spenders can afford it and they see it as an existential risk as much as a profit opportunity.

Maybe OP's conclusion about the headline question blunts some political opposition to data centers, but that's not the salient issue.

The issue is this: America is betting a meaningful chunk of GDP that AGI is possible. This is The Manhattan Project 2.0.

The bargain had a quid pro quo...you get knowledge and pleasure in exchange for perpetual servitude to a bad guy. I wouldn't make that trade

For me, the subconscious is the wellspring of sudden insights.

Making a "ton of money"....it matters because new people want to know what price is paid for exceptional comp.

As FTX experienced the unprecedented growth to fantastical scale, SBF was at the center of it. I strongly suspect he felt deified by it, felt that the market was giving him unqualified approval for his every thought and method.

Somewhere in his ascendancy, I suspect that EA became merely a vocabulary of stock responses that he used to explain his decisions and to frame his public image.

The immorality began when he chose to ignore his fiduciary duty to his depositors, and instead used their funds as if they were VC money available to fund his ideas. The immorality continued when he gave false financial statements to the AR lenders. It culminated when he tweeted "everything is fine" when the withdrawal rush began.

Was he using EA theory to justify these unethical choices? Caroline Ellison thought he was but that was because she was in thrall to his personality.

I would be immensely surprised if EA goals ever crossed his mind when he made these decisions. I suspect he was in empire building mode aiming to enter the pantheon of SV tech titans.

The WSJ had a chart of "where did the money go" showing that only a miniscule slice of the $16B was donated to philanthropic organizations. It was less than $100M.

You are correct that EA has been unmasked as a philosophy unburdened by ethics. However, my view is that SBF only used EA as a convenient label for his motives, when his goals were consolidating his power.