POLICY · REGULATION · #2951
Venkatesh Rao argues AI elites may hoard 'intelligence' like mercantilists
In an essay on his blog Contraptions, engineer Venkatesh Rao argues that some elites treat intelligence as a scarce asset to be managed and withheld—comparing this to mercantilism—and that fears about open AI models are sometimes used for influence. Rao contends the political focus should be on fair access to AI and that AI (including autonomous agents) could expand demand for ideas rather than simply displacing workers, while still needing guardrails.
KEY POINTS
- In an essay on his blog Contraptions, engineer Venkatesh Rao argues that some elites treat intelligence as a scarce asset to be managed and withheld—comparing this to mercantilism—and that fears about open AI models are sometimes used for influence.
- Rao contends the political focus should be on fair access to AI and that AI (including autonomous agents) could expand demand for ideas rather than simply displacing workers, while still needing guardrails.
- Frames AI issues as a question of concentrated access and political power rather than only job loss, affecting debates over openness, regulation, and inequality.
WHY IT MATTERS
Frames AI issues as a question of concentrated access and political power rather than only job loss, affecting debates over openness, regulation, and inequality.