While I agree that the rhetoric around AI Safety would be better if it tried to address some of the benefits (and not embody the full doomer vibe), I don't think many of the 'core thinkers' are unaware of the benefits in AGI. I don't fully agree with this paper's conclusions, but I think https://nickbostrom.com/astronomical/waste is one piece that embodies this style of thinking well!
Thanks for the link -- that is a good paper (in the sense of making its point, though I also don't entirely agree), and it hurts the AI risk position that that kind of thinking doesn't get airtime. It may be that those 'core thinkers' are aware, but if so it's counter-productive and of questionable integrity to sweep that side of the argument under the rug.
