In this gripping episode of The Deep Dig, we delve into the intricate layers of technological and infrastructural power dynamics with Khayyam’s essay, “Power in the Background.” We explore the overlooked foundation beneath the shiny surface of AI advancements, revealing a quiet yet profound shift in control and influence. Discover how Anthropic’s strategic moves are reshaping the AI landscape, raising pressing questions about ethics, power, and the true beneficiaries of technological progress.

Category/Topics/Subjects:

• AI Infrastructure and Power Dynamics
• Ethical AI and Governance
• Strategic Corporate Positioning
• Surveillance and Data Privacy
• Technological Influence on Government and Enterprise

Best Quotes:

1. “We’re all admiring the sleek, new, self-driving car, and we totally miss that some company just bought the entire highway system.”
2. “Anthropic is winning the infrastructure war, quietly. They’re achieving total market capture by becoming the essential substrate, the plumbing, the operating system for state and corporate power going forward.”
3. “Solving tomorrow’s alignment problem by creating today’s power consolidation problem. That’s a bitter irony.”

Three Major Areas of Critical Thinking:

1. Ethical AI as Corporate Strategy:

• Analyze how Anthropic uses ethical AI as a strategic tool to secure government and enterprise contracts. Consider the implications of AI safety theater and its role in soothing concerns while enabling deeper integration into critical infrastructure.

2. Infrastructural Dominance and Market Control:

• Explore the concept of infrastructural capture through Amazon’s vertical integration with Tranium chips and AWS. Discuss the long-term effects of owning the foundational ‘rails’ on competition and innovation in the AI sector.

3. The Real Alignment Problem:

• Reflect on the disparity between the perceived AI alignment issues of the future and the current alignment with existing power structures. Question how technological development serves current societal needs and interests versus potential shareholder and state security priorities.

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