The rapid convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) toward conversational chatbot interfaces marks a critical moment for the industry. This paper argues that the chatbot paradigm is not a neutral interface choice, but a dominant sociotechnical configuration whose widespread adoption reshapes social, economic, legal, and environmental systems. We examine how treating AI primarily as conversational assistants has extensive structural downsides. We show how chatbot-based systems often fail to adequately meet user needs, particularly in complex or high-stakes contexts, while projecting confidence and authority. We further analyze how the normalization of chatbot-mediated interaction alters patterns of work, learning, and decision-making, contributing to deskilling, homogenization of knowledge, and shifting expectations of expertise. Finally, we examine broader societal effects, including labor displacement, concentration of economic power, and increased environmental costs driven by sustained investment in large-scale chatbot infrastructures. While acknowledging legitimate benefits, we argue that the current trajectory of AI development reflects specific value choices that prioritize conversational generality over domain specificity, accountability, and long-term social sustainability. We conclude by outlining alternative directions for AI development and governance that move beyond one-size-fits-all chatbots, emphasizing pluralistic system design, task-specific tools, and institutional safeguards to mitigate social and economic harm.

翻译：人工智能（AI）快速向对话式聊天机器人界面趋同，标志着该行业的关键时刻。本文认为，聊天机器人范式并非中立的界面选择，而是一种占主导地位的社会技术配置，其广泛采用重塑了社会、经济、法律和环境系统。我们探讨了将AI主要视为对话助手的做法如何带来广泛的结构性弊端。我们展示了基于聊天的系统如何常常无法充分满足用户需求，尤其是在复杂或高风险场景中，同时却表现出自信和权威。我们进一步分析了聊天机器人中介互动的常规化如何改变工作、学习和决策模式，导致技能退化、知识同质化以及对专业能力的预期转变。最后，我们审视了更广泛的社会影响，包括劳动力替代、经济权力集中，以及因持续投资大规模聊天机器人基础设施而增加的环境成本。在承认合法益处的同时，我们主张当前AI发展轨迹反映了一种特定的价值选择，即优先考虑对话通用性，而非领域特异性、问责制和长期社会可持续性。我们最后概述了AI发展与治理的替代方向，这些方向超越了千篇一律的聊天机器人，强调多元化系统设计、任务导向型工具以及制度保障，以减轻社会和经济危害。