The Power Dynamics of AI and Its Implications on Society

An intriguing art piece portrays Open AI as a sinking ship during a protest at the OpenAI DevDay 2026 conference in San Francisco on September 29, 2026. For years, Hollywood has cautioned us about robotic threats reducing humanity to nothingness. While that scenario is alarming, a different concern is that humans remain in full control of advanced technology. This might offer comfort to some, but it poses a different kind of threat.

The rise of AI suggests the possibility of a high-tech feudalism, where individuals rent essential tools without owning them. Consider the lessons from social media’s evolution between 2012 and 2023. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed a surge in teenage depression during those years, aligning with the rise of algorithms that seemed omniscient. In 2021, leaked internal documents from Meta demonstrated executives’ awareness of the negative impact on young users’ mental health, yet the engagement tactics continued. User attention translated into revenue, fueling this cycle. An entire generation traded mental well-being for digital validation.

While social media captured our attention, AI is taking a stronger hold. Generative models shape synthetic realities and interactions that mimic human closeness. A teenager today could spend endless hours in conversation with a customizable bot that becomes a substitute for real human connections. AI shapes cognition, dictating behavior and thought processes. People become dependent on proprietary software for tasks as basic as communication. As AI grows more intelligent, human intelligence may decline, with those creating AI systems profiting extensively.

OpenAI now boasts a valuation of $852 billion. Microsoft invested over $13 billion for commercial rights to its models. Companies like Anthropic, Meta, Alphabet, and Amazon invest billions annually in technology to uphold market supremacy. These corporations aim to maximize shareholder returns, often dismissing genuine employee concerns. Wall Street demands continual growth, and executives deliver by ensnaring users in addictive digital ecosystems.

Historical patterns reveal similar actions by corporations focused on short-term profit over societal welfare. In 1998, tobacco firms entered the Master Settlement Agreement after selling addictive products to youth. In 2008, financial institutions crashed the housing market and received bailout funds, while millions faced home losses. Expecting change in corporate behavior seems irrational. Tech executives plead for public trust in their ethics committees despite significant industry concerns over future implications.

A select few companies are anticipated to control technologies undertaking many of the tasks humans perform today. AI advances rapidly, and a future where these systems surpass human capability isn’t far-fetched. The era of small startups is fading, as building powerful AI systems requires vast resources—making entry nearly impossible. Specialized data centers need extensive energy and capital. The centralized framework ensures control remains in the hands of major tech leaders.

This dominance creates unparalleled societal influence. The term ‘unprecedented’ is critical. Comparisons to the Industrial Revolution or the internet do not suffice, as neither provided such power over knowledge and decision-making to so few corporations. A dystopian future might involve consumers paying for AI-driven advice on communication, without needing robotic threats. John Mac Ghlionn, a writer and researcher, examines cultural, social, and technological impacts on everyday life.