There have been a few sci-fi authors who have written stories about AI who, for one reason or another, are more interested in the virtual than the physical. They get interested in solving math or physics problems to e exclusion of all else; they simulate realities more amenable to their preferences; they are obsessed with improving themselves and spend all their time and resources optimizing slightly smarter versions of themselves. Sometimes it's AI, but another common scenario is that once a civilization can upload themselves, they cease to bother with the physical, for similar reasons.

As someone else pointed out, this article is more of an op ed than journalism, and it's not particularly original. The author isn't even suggesting neutral motivations, just that every civilization eventually develops AI, which then destroys them.

I was surprised to see the author is credentialed, TBH.