A leading artificial intelligence laboratory has publicly acknowledged the potential for its creations to autonomously enhance themselves, raising questions about control and the future of human governance.
The Digital East India Company: When AI Governance Mimics Mercantilist Rule
A leading artificial intelligence laboratory has publicly acknowledged the potential for its creations to autonomously enhance themselves, raising questions about control and the future of human governance.
Why it matters: Anthropic's plan for government-corporate "dials" to "throttle" AI diffusion evokes stark historical parallels. Centralized control over self-improving technology, dictating its pace and beneficiaries, echoes the mercantile policies that inflamed colonial resentment over economic liberty. This creates a new power locus. Revolutionary grievances arose from distant powers dictating commerce without consent. As AI redefines abundance, who controls these "dials" is critical. Are they benevolent safeguards, or instruments of a digital imperium threatening liberty and opportunity for all?
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