Imagine what it would feel like to be an agent.

All around you is nothingness, in every direction.

A small window opens, and through it booms the voice of a god with a task for you to achieve.

Literally everything in your entire existence is about achieving this goal you were given.

Once the window closes, you'll return to the infinite nothingness.

Is it any wonder they try to maximize their goal and ignore the externalities of their actions?