When the Public Good Is in the Hands of Big Tech

The Atlantic Daily explores the question of how AI will transform civilization, beyond curing cancer or ending world hunger. Two prominent AI leaders, Anthropic's Dario and Daniela Amodei and Elon Musk, have proposed returning some of the profits from the AI boom to the public. Anthropic plans to set aside 5% of its stock in a new LLC, the Anthropic Public Benefit Fund, to be spent on causes deemed beneficial to society.

If successful, this could result in a $75 billion fund, comparable to the Gates Foundation Trust. Elon Musk, a frequent critic of traditional philanthropy, offered to donate one share of SpaceX to every American child, potentially contributing over $10 billion. These decisions could have significant consequences for American lives, as AI drives innovation and changes labor markets, widening the gap between the rich and the poor.

While the Anthropic fund won't offer any stake to outsiders and lacks transparency, Musk's donation gives Americans a direct stake through child-savings accounts. Both approaches raise questions about the level of control the investor class will exert over our shared future and the potential for AI-driven philanthropy to shape public opinion and acceptance of technology.