Engineer Slams AI Industry as '99% Hype,' Says Sora Offers Less Value Than NFTs

Since the generative AI boom began, technology companies have attracted vast amounts of capital with large models and image- and video-generation services. But persistent questions remain over whether training data was properly licensed, whether creators can be compensated and whether the technology can turn a profit given its high computing costs. Veteran British front-end engineer David Bushell sees OpenAI's Sora as emblematic of an overhyped industry that is eroding the open web.

Bushell published “I quit. The clankers won.” on April 1, 2026, arguing that generative AI is “99% hype” and that Sora produces even less value than NFTs. Citing the industry's cash burn, he noted that OpenAI lost $11.5 billion in a single quarter. He criticized its “casino-style” business model and urged creators to return to blogging and the open web.