Article refers to Hugo Duminil-Copin, who also did a podcast with Brady Haran [1] about this subject, for him it isn't case of bruised ego, or gatekeeping. He realized that the way things were done were going to change, and it made him emotional, he is not pessimistic or against AI.
[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omuJpoV-Ko4