Ask A Genius 1252: Powerlessness or Empowerment
Author(s): Rick Rosner and Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/02/02
Rick Rosner: We live in an age where oligarchs wield more control over politics, the products we consume, and our culture than ever before. The nature of that oligarchy is about to change in unprecedented ways in the coming years, as it will merge with the extra strategic and persuasive power of sophisticated AI. What do you think?
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: None. That all sounds accurate. This AI revolution may blunt the oligarchs’ power a little, as non-billionaires who use AI might gain relative power compared to everyone else. Still, it will likely remain a mix of traditional oligarchy and a new tech aristocracy—along with an improving standard of living and perhaps even longer lifespans. Our long-held wishes might come true even as we lose more personal dominion.
The overall “pie” of power is expected to grow in size and precision. However, it will still be largely controlled by a few select groups. History, as always, repeats itself.
Rosner: It’s a strange feeling—more about powerlessness than empowerment. We must re-evaluate the importance of personal agency and the idea of being the master of our own domain. We may have to come to terms with the fact that complete autonomy might no longer be attainable. Philosophically speaking, we might even ask: Was agency ever as significant as we thought? In an era when nearly everyone eventually dies, and most people live in squalor, was rugged individualism truly that important? We’re already getting used to sacrificing privacy—honestly, I don’t care much about it anymore. What about you? Do you still value privacy?
Jacobsen: It depends on the situation.
Rosner: I remember surviving my time at Kimmel by revealing personal details that most would rather keep hidden. In fact, I was even rewarded for giving up my privacy for comedic effect. Younger generations care even less about privacy nowadays. Privacy has been under attack for a long time, and our autonomy is increasingly threatened. Most of us will have to adapt.
Jacobsen: Same time tomorrow?
Rosner: Yes—tomorrow.
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