What if AI plateaus somewhere terrible?

This article from r/singularity presents a compelling, albeit pessimistic, scenario regarding the future of AI. It argues that AI might not reach the utopian heights of ASI or simply be overhyped autocomplete, but instead plateau at a level capable of automating a significant portion of white-collar work without solving major global challenges. This "mediocre plateau" could lead to increased inequality, corporate profits, and government control, all while avoiding a crisis point that would spark significant resistance. The author questions the technical feasibility of such a plateau and the motivations behind optimistic AI predictions, prompting a discussion about potential responses to this scenario.