The Journal. · Friday, July 31, 2026
Yako, a member of the anti-AI group Stop AI and formerly a restaurant manager, expressed concerns about AI's potential to dictate personal choices, from daily decisions to relationships. He believes that even in a best-case scenario, relying on AI means surrendering free will, which he considers dystopian.
“I was a restaurant manager here in San Francisco, um, for a decade before this. So, um, yeah, I kind of stumbled backwards into this experience.”
“Like, are we going to be asking AI what should I eat for breakfast in the morning? What should I be studying in school? What job should I, I pursue? Who should I date? Should I date this person or that person? Who do I really love?”
“And it's like, even in a best case scenario where AI doesn't become uncontrollable, we're essentially giving away our free will. And that to me just feels like dystopian.”