The landscape of US military efforts has undergone a significant shift in recent years, with AI companies like Meta, Google, and OpenAI becoming increasingly involved. Just two years ago, these companies were united against the use of their tools for military purposes. However, over the past year, this stance has changed dramatically.
In January 2024, OpenAI quietly rescinded its ban on using AI for "military and warfare" purposes, with reports emerging that it was working on several projects with the Pentagon. Meta followed suit in November, announcing that the US and select allies could use its Llama AI for defense purposes. Anthropic also allowed its models to be used by the military, partnering with defense firm Palantir. OpenAI later announced a partnership with defense startup Anduril.
Meanwhile, Google revised its AI principles to allow for the development and use of weapons and technologies that might harm people. The rapid shift in stance has raised concerns about the existential risks of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). Worryingly, worries about these risks have virtually disappeared.
The change can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the immense costs involved in building these models have made research on general-purpose technologies faster and more efficient. The defense sector's soft budget constraints and long-term nature of contracts make it an attractive customer for new technologies.
Secondly, the geopolitical landscape has changed significantly since the mid-2010s, with the emergence of a new fraction of Silicon Valley capital and a splitting of worldviews amongst the American tech elite. A growing influence of a newly prominent tech right has also emerged, which includes radical ideologies such as libertarian network state utopias, techno-monarchist visions, and eugenicist views.
The national security interests in favor of stymying China have been let loose in recent years. The US has deployed tools such as tariffs, investment screening, export controls, and more to resist Chinese competition. Major AI startups like Sam Altman have also begun pushing the narrative of a zero-sum struggle between the US and China.
The hyperscaler AI firms and semiconductor companies have largely refrained from stoking geopolitical tensions, advocating instead for a world built around the free flow of goods, services, and data. However, the vaguely socially liberal elements of Silicon Valley are being attacked and replaced with an increasingly virulent right-wing stance that aligns with the state via government contracts and a bipolar vision of the global order.
This reflects a major breakdown of the Silicon Valley Consensus, characterized by competing hegemonic visions between neoliberal globalization on one hand and Manichean visions of the global order on the other. The future is far from settled as alternatives are desperately needed to navigate this complex landscape.
In January 2024, OpenAI quietly rescinded its ban on using AI for "military and warfare" purposes, with reports emerging that it was working on several projects with the Pentagon. Meta followed suit in November, announcing that the US and select allies could use its Llama AI for defense purposes. Anthropic also allowed its models to be used by the military, partnering with defense firm Palantir. OpenAI later announced a partnership with defense startup Anduril.
Meanwhile, Google revised its AI principles to allow for the development and use of weapons and technologies that might harm people. The rapid shift in stance has raised concerns about the existential risks of AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). Worryingly, worries about these risks have virtually disappeared.
The change can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the immense costs involved in building these models have made research on general-purpose technologies faster and more efficient. The defense sector's soft budget constraints and long-term nature of contracts make it an attractive customer for new technologies.
Secondly, the geopolitical landscape has changed significantly since the mid-2010s, with the emergence of a new fraction of Silicon Valley capital and a splitting of worldviews amongst the American tech elite. A growing influence of a newly prominent tech right has also emerged, which includes radical ideologies such as libertarian network state utopias, techno-monarchist visions, and eugenicist views.
The national security interests in favor of stymying China have been let loose in recent years. The US has deployed tools such as tariffs, investment screening, export controls, and more to resist Chinese competition. Major AI startups like Sam Altman have also begun pushing the narrative of a zero-sum struggle between the US and China.
The hyperscaler AI firms and semiconductor companies have largely refrained from stoking geopolitical tensions, advocating instead for a world built around the free flow of goods, services, and data. However, the vaguely socially liberal elements of Silicon Valley are being attacked and replaced with an increasingly virulent right-wing stance that aligns with the state via government contracts and a bipolar vision of the global order.
This reflects a major breakdown of the Silicon Valley Consensus, characterized by competing hegemonic visions between neoliberal globalization on one hand and Manichean visions of the global order on the other. The future is far from settled as alternatives are desperately needed to navigate this complex landscape.
they're making some pretty advanced tech that could be used for some bad stuff too 
I don't know about all these changes and how it's going to affect the world, but it does seem like there are some major shifts happening in Silicon Valley and it's kinda scary 
I'm not saying it's a bad thing per se, but we gotta be careful here. These companies are playing with fire and they don't even know it. The whole AI stuff is still so new and untested. We can't just let the Pentagon have free rein over this tech without thinking about the risks. 
I think its gonna be a total disaster when these AI companies just start churning out super powerful military tech without any major oversight 
Like, what's stopping them from creating an AI that can totally destroy humanity in the process of "winning" some wars? 
And yeah, the fact that it's all being driven by this "zero-sum struggle" narrative between the US and China is super sketchy 
. I mean, who gets to decide what's "right" or "wrong" in a global arms race? 
Not these tech giants, that's for sure 
. I'm super concerned about these developments, especially considering the existential risks of AGI 
. And what's even more worrying is that this shift reflects a growing influence of radical right-wing ideologies in Silicon Valley 
it's wild how quickly they went from being against it to being all about it 
but is that really a good thing when we're talking about AGI and existential risks? 
.
, now it's like a right-wing takeover 
. We need some new players in the game who can bring back that original spirit 
.
Or are we just going to let the right-wing tech elite dictate our future? 
. but at the same time, i got major concerns about AGI existential risks 
.
...and its not just about the tech companies themselves, but also the ideologies and power struggles that come with it 
so like meta google openai all these big companies r partnerin with the us military now it's like they're forgettin their own morality or somethin 
.
. It's like everyone's trying to outdo each other in a game of "who can be more aggressive" 
. Can't we all just get along? 
and I'm still trying to process all the beauty around me. Have you ever been to Kauai? It's like a whole different world up there! The rainforests, the waterfalls, the beaches... it's like nature is just putting on this incredible show for us. And have you tried those local coffee shops? I mean, I know it sounds weird, but they're literally the best coffee I've ever had outside of Seattle 
️
OpenAI and Meta and Google changed their minds pretty quick. Imo, its because big bucks are involved 
and the US wants to keep up with them in tech. Theres also some right wing folks coming in and changing the vibe 
... remember when we used to worry about governments gettin' too big? Now it's all about these AI companies bein' buddies with the Pentagon 
. What's next? Gonna have robots doin' our laundry too? 
It seems like everyone's lost sight of what's really important – keepin' humanity safe and sound. And what's this I hear about some new tech firm thinkin' China's the real enemy? 
