Techno-Fascism: The AI Oligarchs Go to Washington

In my life, I’ve never seen a clip that so clearly shows the way that America’s oligarchs put profits over people. This was from a gathering of tech leaders, which Trump hosted at the White House on September 4. The event was meant to kick off a broader initiative, which Trump’s communications crew insists on calling a “visionary AI Action Plan.”

Watch and weep.

It’s pleasant to note the absence of Elon Musk here, but, otherwise, the whole thing is a horror show.

This is the very definition of bootlicking, and it shows precisely how American capitalism has gone off the rails. Seriously, what’s the point of having “eff you” money if a goon like Trump can so easily bring you to heel?

But maybe I’m giving these individuals too much credit by saying Trump has them on a leash? Maybe it’s more accurate to say that they’ve been in lockstep with men like Trump for a good, long while? Maybe they’re thrilled to have a man like Trump grease the wheels of their insane machine?

It’s harder and harder to avoid that conclusion.

If you’re like me and watching this clip makes you feel wretched, then perhaps you’ll want a palette-cleanser.

Here’s the latest episode of “Autocracy in America,” the podcast from The Atlantic featuring Garry Kasparov, the former World Chess Champion and now an important voice in the movement to preserve democracy.

Here, Kasparov speaks with Gary Marcus, the author of Taming Silicon Valley: How We Can Ensure That AI Works for Us (2024). Marcus is a cognitive scientist, whose work in AI spans decades. He explains what AI can and cannot do, and he breaks down AI’s faults and flaws, noting that we still have a choice regarding whether to accept its costs and assist the individuals who stand to profit at our expense. Like so much else, it’s a question of political will. Americans, together, will determine which way the knife’s edge tilts.