Sam Altman and AI fascism

[Freddy Figbottom]

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Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is often criticized for his connections to influential figures in Silicon Valley who are accused of promoting fascist ideologies. Critics argue that the development of AI under his leadership reflects the interests of powerful investors rather than ethical considerations for society. Jacobin shanley.com

Sam Altman and AI Development​

Background on Sam Altman​

Sam Altman is the CEO of OpenAI, a company known for its advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly with products like ChatGPT. Initially, OpenAI aimed to develop AI that benefits humanity, focusing on safety and ethical considerations.

Concerns About AI Leadership​

Critics argue that the leadership behind AI development, including figures like Altman, is problematic. They claim that many influential investors and founders in Silicon Valley, including Altman, are associated with controversial practices and ideologies. This has led to accusations of a "fascist" influence in the tech industry, where corporate interests may overshadow ethical considerations.

The Role of Funding and Influence​

OpenAI has received funding from various venture capitalists and tech leaders, some of whom have been labeled as having authoritarian tendencies. This funding structure raises concerns about the motivations behind AI development and the potential for misuse of technology. Critics suggest that the focus on profit and power can lead to ethical compromises in AI's development and deployment.

Implications for Society​

The ongoing debate highlights the need for scrutiny regarding who controls AI technology and the implications of their values on society. As AI continues to evolve, the intersection of corporate power and ethical responsibility remains a critical issue.
Jacobin shanley.com

 

[Freddy Figbottom]

ByDave Lozo
November 7, 2025
• less than 3 min read
OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar opened a can of worms this week when she said the company wanted a government “backstop” on loans to help with the $1.4 trillion in spending it has planned over the next eight years for data centers and other infrastructure commitments.

Despite CEO Sam Altman’s efforts to “clarify” Friar’s statement with a tweet almost as long as this newsletter that asserted the company is not trying to become “too big to fail,” and White House AI czar David Sacks declaring that the taxpayers will never have to fund a bailout for AI, questions remain.

Critics are asking even more loudly: Is a company that recently announced it was rolling out erotica and has yet to turn a profit already too big to fail?

It’s circular logic​

It’s more than size that has some observers nervous. As the Wall Street Journal points out, it wasn’t only that banks were “too big to fail” in 2008 when the collapse of Lehman Brothers triggered a global financial crisis—it’s that they were too interconnected. Now, the extremely polyAImorous nature of OpenAI’s core investments, coupled with how the tech industry is propping up an economy teetering on the edge of a recession, has some worried that we’re headed toward another bubble popping.

OpenAI has billions tied up in circular investments with companies that include Nvidia, Microsoft, AMD, Oracle, and CoreWeave, designed to help foster its buildout. And it hasn’t spelled out how it plans to fund the necessary infrastructure yet (an IPO isn’t expected in the near term).

Not everyone’s against government support: Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, which briefly crossed a $5 trillion market cap last week, said on Wednesday that having government subsidies to support data centers is the only way to stay ahead of China in the AI race.

Zoom out: As AI giants held out their hands for governmental support, investors pulled back. AI company stocks lost more than $820 billion this week, making it their worst week since President Trump’s tariff announcements in April.—DL

Is OpenAI putting the ‘ai’ in too big to fail?

CEO Sam Altman said he doesn't want a bailout if his company falters.

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