We don't "need" it any more than we need endless streams of cat videos and fake personalities on tiktok. Some people get more utility out of one over the other.

We don't "need" it any more than we need endless streams of cat videos and fake personalities on tiktok. Some people get more utility out of one over the other. Some would argue that we would all be better off without those other things and keeping AI instead. That subjective interpretation of marginal utility and where valuable becomes wasteful for any particular action is both the reason and the answer for your questions.