AI Companies Resemble Colonial Empires, Says Karen Hao

Karen Hao's book Empire of AI compares modern AI companies to colonial empires.

She argues that these companies extract resources like data, land, and talent to create powerful AI models.

These models can impose a one-size-fits-all perspective, often biased towards Western views.

Hao warns that the unchecked rise of AI companies could lead to democratic backsliding and create entities more powerful than nation-states.

She also highlights the unprecedented energy demands of generative AI, suggesting that it could require the resources of 100 Earths to sustain.

Hao's work aims to bring awareness to the immense power and potential dangers of AI companies.