I think part of the reason AI is so attractive to VC money that previously went into crypto is that while the "cynical" sales pitch of crypto is selling unregul

I think part of the reason AI is so attractive to VC money that previously went into crypto is that while the "cynical" sales pitch of crypto is selling unregulated financial products to retail investors in a legal gray area, the one for AI is abdicating direct responsibility by introducing a convoluted rube goldberg machine in the decision making process: there is a reason EU legislation for example grants residents the right to demand human review and justification for any automated decision (e.g. on insurance claims). If you think this is a stretch consider that most "gig economy" VC money went to companies whose value proposition mostly consisted of skirting labor laws and other regulations (e.g. Airbnb opening residential space to tourism, Uber sidestepping Taxi regulations, delivery apps offloading liability to "independent" drivers, etc). "Disruption" to a large part often also refers to laws and regulations. Illegality (i.e. violating laws and regulations) only becomes a problem if you get caught and the consequences outweigh the profit.