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Billionaire solipsism, dictator solipsism, AI, and the fascist paradigm

This article by Cory Doctorow explores how power breeds solipsism—the tendency for rulers to see others as less real—and how this mindset makes AI particularly appealing to corporate and political elites. He connects the fantasy of replacing workers and bureaucrats with AI to the fascist paradigm of rule by a few geniuses. Drawing on a paper by Farrell and Shalizi, he argues that AI governance projects like DOGE misunderstand the nature of political trade-offs and the value of bureaucratic discretion.

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Billionaire solipsism, dictator solipsism, AI, and the fascist paradigm
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Under the source content permission, this page provides an editorial summary, key points, and a link to the original article.

Key points and analysis

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Key points

  • Power amplifies solipsism: the powerful see others as statistical artifacts or obstacles.
  • AI is attractive to rulers because it promises to bypass human needs and execute their will directly.
  • Farrell and Shalizi's work shows how politicians use AI fantasies to justify dismantling civil services.
  • AI governance cannot handle the inherently qualitative and contested nature of political trade-offs.

Highlights and analysis are generated automatically and may contain errors. Check the original source.

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