Thread

1. whaaswijk · 1790429399 · focus · HN ↗

   Unfortunately the article is behind a paywall. I would have been interested to see if he makes any substantial arguments. I don't see any reason to believe that AI being software entails that it can be controlled. Moreover, even if a measure of control is possible, giving that control to a handful of oligarchs seems undesirable.

   1. andsoitis · 1790430288 · focus · HN ↗

      > giving that control to a handful of oligarchs seems undesirable.

      You think Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT are controlled by oligarchs?

      In other words, that Alphabet, Anthropic, and OpenAI are run / owned by oligarchs?

      People like Amodei and Altman are oligarchs?

      1. jyounker · 1790432260 · focus · HN ↗

         Cambridge Dictionary: Oligarch - One of a small group of powerful people who control a country or an industry.

         And here&#x27;s a frequently quoted study showing that the US is much closer to an oligopoly than pluralistic democracy: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;piketty.pse.ens.fr&#x2F;files&#x2F;GilensPage2014.pdf" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;piketty.pse.ens.fr&#x2F;files&#x2F;GilensPage2014.pdf

         So, the definition and evidence say, yes.

         1. andsoitis · 1790432901 · focus · HN ↗

            In what way do Amodei or Altman control a country or an industry?

            1. whaaswijk · 1790438525 · focus · HN ↗

               If the current path toward A(G&#x2F;S)I continues, most of the technology will be owned by a small number of companies (and thus people) such as OpenAI and Anthropic. Their control could initially be economic, since they control the technologies which would conceivably replace much of human labor. It doesn&#x27;t seem like a stretch to think that economic control could be extended to the political domain. Seems like an oligarchy to me.

               1. andsoitis · 1790439087 · focus · HN ↗

                  &gt; If the current path... Seems like an oligarchy to me.

                  You are arguing it might, not that it is.

                  1. whaaswijk · 1790439780 · focus · HN ↗

                     Well yes, I&#x27;m speculating about the future. Given that, I have sketched a scenario in which a small number of people control a country or an industry, even if ASI can be controlled. If you disagree with the reasoning, I&#x27;d be interested to hear why. If not, I don&#x27;t think any further discussion of my use of the term &quot;oligarch&quot; is going to be productive.

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