Exploring Accelerationist and Doom-Adjacent Philosophies in the Context of Artificial Intelligence Priorities
The dust may be settling on the OpenAI drama of the weekend — Sam Altman is out, headed to Microsoft; the company is in revolt; people are having a change of heart; and more. It’s time to sit down and parse the politics of the situation.
Politics in Tech: A Necessary Discussion
Tech folks often eschew talking about politics, dismissing it as a distraction or mistake. But several political perspectives are shaping quite a lot of the work on artificial intelligence, and so we need to understand them, especially now.
Understanding the Axes: Speed and Concern
The different political perspectives currently concerning the development of AI lie along two axes: speed and concern. Speed is how quickly different groups want AI technology to progress. As for concern, some folks are worried about what we will not get if we slow AI development, while others are concerned that things could move too quickly and argue that we should be careful about what is being built and how we share and deploy it.
The E/ACC Crew: Effective Accelerationism
One key group comprises the E/ACC crew. Short for "effective accelerationism," E/ACC is a reference and retort of sorts to "effective altruism," which rose and fell in popularity along with former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. The EA idea, per the Centre for Effective Altruism, is to "find the best ways to help others, and put them into practice." So much for that.
E/ACC is different. A recent manifesto by a16z can help us frame our thinking:
"We believe in accelerationism — the conscious and deliberate propulsion of technological development — to ensure the fulfillment of the Law of Accelerating Returns. To ensure the techno-capital upward spiral continues forever."
The venture firm added the following in that memo:
"Our present society has been subjected to a mass demoralization campaign for six decades — against technology and against life — under varying names like ‘existential risk,’ ‘sustainability,’ ‘ESG,’ ‘Sustainable Development Goals,’ ‘social responsibility,’ ‘stakeholder capitalism,’ ‘Precautionary Principle,’ ‘trust and safety,’ ‘tech ethics,’ ‘risk management,’ ‘de-growth,’ ‘the limits of growth.’"
These paragraphs help us arrive at a good understanding of the E/ACC crew’s stance on AI development. They believe in pushing forward with technological advancements, regardless of the concerns that come with it.
The Decels: A Counter-Narrative
In contrast to the E/ACC crew, there are those who advocate for a more cautious approach to AI development. These individuals are often referred to as "decels." They believe in building something safe or not at all, and are critical of the rapid pace at which AI technology is advancing.
Why the E/ACC Crowd Is Winning
As far as I can tell, E/ACC is winning the current conversation, mostly because of how quickly AI tech is advancing and the fact that a huge proportion of the economy wants to use AI to save money and do more. There’s a massive economic tailwind blowing on the back of the E/ACC crowd.
The Decels’ Hope Is Fading
In contrast, the decels’ hope of "build something safe or not at all" pretty much failed when Sam Altman was removed from his perch atop OpenAI. Microsoft is putting its dollars behind Altman, so it seems that the E/ACC crowd is gaining momentum.
Conclusion
It’s essential to understand these different perspectives on AI development and their implications for the future of technology. As we move forward with advancements in AI, it’s crucial to consider the potential risks and benefits of this rapidly evolving field. By understanding the politics behind AI, we can better navigate its implications and ensure that it serves humanity’s best interests.
About the Author
Alex Wilhelm is a senior reporter for TechCrunch covering the markets, venture capital, and startups. He was also the founding host of TechCrunch’s Webby Award-winning podcast Equity.
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