A surprisingly direct model based on Rate Distortion Control Theory finds that ‘intelligent systems’ having large characteristic embodiment-and-response times relative to those of embedding selection pressures cannot constrain distortion between what is wanted and what is done, or even ensure basic stability. Systems that are not adequately embodied—or, indeed, not embodied at all and hence under permanent sensory deprivation—will have very limited realms of utility. Current venture-capital research streams related to Artificial General Intelligence and Machine Consciousness do not properly focus on the foundational necessity of hyperrapid embodiment under selection dynamics. Indeed, via their static training sets, contemporary large language models are effectively without any form of embodiment. The resulting Dreams of Reason cannot be sustained or endured.