May 27, 2026 – 10.16amLiesl Yearsley’s status as a local industry trailblazer is indisputable. The title could have been invented especially for the woman who had built and sold an artificial intelligence company almost a decade before Sam Altman released ChatGPT to a rapt populace and kicked off the AI boom now consuming the business and investment worlds.So why is she so pessimistic about the sector she pioneered?Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Paul SmithTechnology editorPaul Smith edits the technology coverage and has been a leading writer on the sector for 20 years. He covers big tech, artificial intelligence, business use of tech, the fast-growing Australian tech industry and start-ups, and national innovation policy from our Sydney newsroom. Send tips to @sayssmithy.99 on encrypted messaging platform Signal.Fetching latest articles