I can see this outcome, however... there's a lot more nuance to worry about here. The small percentage, even now, can still get good food. And even grow their own crop.

We're already losing physical books, and data online will slowly become more and more circumspect. That is, AI training on AI, with more and more nonsense blogs, will make simple accuracy of any data very rare.

A strong mind may have the capacity to not be taint by AI too much, but what if it cannot get anything non-AI tainted to feed it? What if there are no teachers of any caliber left, for they are all smooth-brains as you say?

What if society is run AI itself, and no one understands anything at all?

That incredible mind may make some progress, but will lack the solid foundation you and I have had.