I would find it strange for anyone who's seriously interested in AI to have never heard of...

Those people you name are important only to the very recent micro-culture being discussed, not "AI".

Of all the names somebody interested in the subject would actually associate with the development of AI over the last century, those would be footnotes only.

I think that's part of the problem and why its seen as cultish, the obsession with the social over the scientific, and a lack of historical perspective.

Not important to the technology, sure, but for someone curious about the bizarre public statements of AI companies (or EA-influenced crypto figures before them, like SBF), it does help to know who these people are and what they believe. Behind the new crop of bajillionaires that control some important aspects of our lives are some oddball philosophers (or cult/religious leaders, if you want to be less charitable). If you want the answer to "why are these rich and powerful people saying and doing these things" you need to look at who they're paying attention to and reading, even if you think their opinions are dumb or niche.

If technology companies were much less politically and economically significant, probably no one would give a shit about any of this stuff beyond forums like this.