I’m not sure why you brought up Skynet, because Skynet is the opposite of a “yes man” AI.

There’s no guarantee that we follow the same course as before. AI is its own thing. AI will bring us good and bad things at the same time.

“Magical” isn’t inherently positive. The nuclear bomb is about as “magical” as anything humans have ever created. It’s also terrifying.

OP’s fears are reasonable. Hopefully they don’t come true.

AI is far more powerful, efficient, and effective than Photoshop, and these tools will eventually become even more effective and accessible.

Tech optimists ignore that technological advancement has improved and destroyed lives along the way. You don’t get only positive or only negative. Technology brought us life-saving medicines, the internet, and the nuclear bomb. AI is going to have many powerful effects on society ranging from positive and negative. The potential positive effects are incredible. The potential negative effects are absolutely worth fearing.

People in power are not afraid of being able to cut more workers off the payroll thanks to automation

Well-put.

The techno-optimists’ best arguments are plugging their fingers in their ears, replying to strawmanned versions of reasonable concerns, and calling everyone else “luddites” and “doomers.” It’s possible that things will go well, but I expect that not everything will, and we need to be prepared for that.