Venkatesh Rao argues elites may hoard AI intelligence like mercantilists hoarded gold
Overview
Engineer Venkatesh Rao argues in a Contraptions essay that elites may treat AI intelligence as a scarce resource to manage and withhold, comparing it to how mercantilists treated gold.
The Decoder reports the argument.
Rao also argues that AI could increase demand for thinking, drawing a parallel to early capitalists who worked more to buy goods such as tea and sugar. He says political priorities should focus on fair access to AI.
Written by AI from the articles below · updated Nov 2, 3:07 PM ET
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- The DecoderNewsAI elites may hoard intelligence like mercantilists hoarded gold, Venkatesh Rao argues
AIEngineer Venkatesh Rao argues in a Contraptions essay that elites treat AI intelligence as a scarce resource to manage and withhold, much as mercantilists treated gold. He says AI could increase demand for thinking, as early capitalists worked more to buy tea and sugar, and that political priorities should focus on fair access to AI.
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