**The AI Oligarchy: How Corporations Are Hijacking the Future**
Amy Goodman is interviewing Karen Hao about her book, Empire of AI, which lays bare the alarming concentration of power in the hands of artificial intelligence companies.
**Democracy Under Siege: How AI Companies Are Eroding the Public’s Right to Knowledge**
Amy Goodman: “Karen, your book, Empire of AI, is a warning about the growing power of AI companies, particularly OpenAI, led by Sam Altman. You write about how these corporations are accumulating power and shaping the future without being accountable to anyone. Can you explain this phenomenon?”
Karen Hao: “These companies are creating a new form of colonialism, where they’re extracting value from the global south, often using AI systems that are optimized for profit, not people. They’re doing this with the help of powerful governments and institutions that are more interested in maintaining the status quo than in promoting democracy and human rights.”
**The Rise of a New Elite Class**
What this means: The unchecked growth of AI companies like OpenAI poses a significant threat to democracy and reinforces existing power imbalances. As AI decision-making becomes more pervasive, ordinary people may lose their ability to shape the world around them.
Amy Goodman: “Your book also highlights the role of philanthropic foundations, like the ones run by Sam Altman and his associates, in shaping the AI agenda. Can you talk about the influence of these foundations and their motivations?”
Karen Hao: “These philanthropic foundations are using their wealth and influence to promote a narrow vision of AI that serves their own interests and those of their corporate allies. They’re often more concerned with accelerating technological progress than with ensuring that AI benefits society as a whole.”
**The Future of Power: Will We Have a Say?**
The AI landscape is rapidly changing, and with it, the dynamics of power and influence. As AI companies continue to accumulate power, the public’s right to knowledge and participation in the decision-making process will be eroded. We need to take a closer look at the role of AI in shaping the future and ensure that its benefits are shared by all, not just the privileged few.
