AI Now Institute Warns of Power Consolidation in AGI Development

A new report from the AI Now Institute has raised urgent concerns over the growing concentration of power in the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), warning of the societal and environmental consequences of an unchecked pursuit of this transformative technology. The report, titled “Artificial Power,” argues that the current trajectory of AI development is not an inevitable march toward progress, but rather the result of strategic decisions made by a small number of influential companies and their political allies [1].

According to the AI Now Institute, leading AI firms are investing massive amounts of capital into computing infrastructure, data acquisition, and foundational model development—efforts that are often supported by government funding. However, these companies frequently operate with little public accountability and are driven by speculative ambitions rather than sustainable, ethical innovation. The report challenges the narrative that these firms are too big to fail, emphasizing that their business models are often fragile and their societal impacts severe [1].

A central concern highlighted in the report is the rapid consolidation of AI power among a handful of corporations. This trend is driven by control over massive compute resources, proprietary foundational models such as GPT-4 and Gemini, and access to vast datasets—barriers that make it extremely difficult for smaller, independent developers to compete. The report warns that this consolidation creates an environment where innovation is stifled, fair competition is undermined, and democratic oversight is eroded [1].

The AI Now Institute also calls attention to the ethical and practical harms already being caused by current AI systems. These include environmental damage from energy-intensive training processes, algorithmic discrimination that reinforces social inequalities, the erosion of democratic institutions through disinformation and deepfakes, and severe privacy violations. Rather than focusing on the distant promise of AGI, the report urges a shift in focus to addressing these immediate harms [1].

Political alignment is also a point of concern. The report notes how major AI companies often align with political agendas that favor minimal regulation and maximal growth—such as Trump’s AI Action Plan—suggesting that these alliances are less about ideological alignment and more about securing favorable regulatory environments that support continued dominance [1].

To counter these trends, the AI Now Institute proposes a vision for AI development guided by public accountability, democratic governance, and ethical responsibility. This includes transparent reporting by AI firms, inclusive policymaking, and the establishment of robust legal protections for data privacy and democratic processes. The report also emphasizes the need to address the environmental costs of AI development and to ensure that technological innovation serves the public good rather than narrow commercial interests [1].

The findings of the AI Now Institute resonate deeply within the blockchain and cryptocurrency communities, which have long emphasized decentralization and resistance to centralized power structures. As the race for AGI accelerates, the report serves as a critical reminder that the future of AI is not predetermined—it is shaped by the choices made today. The report urges stakeholders to advocate for a more democratic, ethical, and sustainable path forward, where the benefits of AI are shared equitably and the risks are mitigated [1].

Source: [1] AGI’s Perilous Pursuit: AI Now Institute Reveals Alarming Power Consolidation (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/688bfff14dba6f46d46c31a0/)