How the broligarch's stealth coup, decades in the making, is now open and approved at the highest level. But desperate power grab reveals hidden weakness.
If we can learn anything in the cycle, it’s that people intent on doing harm can and will always use healthy/helpful ideas or communication, and weaponize it for their own purposes.
Great essay. As someone who has worked in defense spaces for years, I'd like to point out some particularly salient weak points in the Tech-Bro architecture. First, while they do have sizable contracts with the government, their products aren't particularly good or well received. Palantir's platform is not all that successful and it's generally reviled throughout the defense enterprise. Anduril is well-renowned for overpromising and under delivering. SpaceX is entirely unprofitable, as is Starlink. It must be noted that all of these companies are only in the game because of litigation. The brain trust to create science fiction still resides in the defense primes, not Silicon Valley. This leads me to my second point. These tech-bros are woefully ignorant when it comes to how things actually work in the real world (and it will be their downfall). They don't understand the larger forces at play and greatly overestimate themselves. Their pitiful technologies will not win the fight and no amount of software engineers will code them out of real-world problems. Last point to make is that their digital infrastructure is not very well protected and their plans rely entirely on it's successful functioning (wink, wink). These are catastrophic failure points that can easily be exploited.
Let me put it this way. If I threw my phone in the river, it would do a quantifiable amount of damage to their plans - but not to mine.
I would be far more concerned about the sheer amount of information that companies like Google and social media platforms have about you. About how your phone is always on you and part of your every day life. Palantir's analytical tools are only as good as the data they get.
As someone who has worked in tech for 25 years, this article really showcases the true nature of tech. Both so good and soooo bad when in the wrong hands. Thank you so much for your perspective and contribution.
Fantastic article! So important for people to share this. I started reading it then lost track of it and spent the past 3 days trying to find it again. Thanks for posting.
This is an outstanding piece and utterly terrifying. I’ve been in the tech industry since mid 90s and god it angers me that they are so greedy and power hungry. I believed technology could be used for good, and it’s disgusting what is going on now. One thing you said jumped out - “AI determining government benefits, social security payments and aid distribution” - I have been saying this for months on end and believe that this is how it will be. AI will absolutely be determining which of us are loyal and receiving benefits and which are going to be left to fight for our lives.
Outstanding summary of the awfulness of the immediate situation. As the daughter of the founder of the Computer and Communications Industry Association (“Jack the Giant Killer” Biddle —advocate for Anti-trust actions and Open Systems) I applaud your synthesis and add my voice for its wide dissemination and for the urgency of taking the regenerative actions it impels. Keep me posted!
If we can learn anything in the cycle, it’s that people intent on doing harm can and will always use healthy/helpful ideas or communication, and weaponize it for their own purposes.
Great essay. As someone who has worked in defense spaces for years, I'd like to point out some particularly salient weak points in the Tech-Bro architecture. First, while they do have sizable contracts with the government, their products aren't particularly good or well received. Palantir's platform is not all that successful and it's generally reviled throughout the defense enterprise. Anduril is well-renowned for overpromising and under delivering. SpaceX is entirely unprofitable, as is Starlink. It must be noted that all of these companies are only in the game because of litigation. The brain trust to create science fiction still resides in the defense primes, not Silicon Valley. This leads me to my second point. These tech-bros are woefully ignorant when it comes to how things actually work in the real world (and it will be their downfall). They don't understand the larger forces at play and greatly overestimate themselves. Their pitiful technologies will not win the fight and no amount of software engineers will code them out of real-world problems. Last point to make is that their digital infrastructure is not very well protected and their plans rely entirely on it's successful functioning (wink, wink). These are catastrophic failure points that can easily be exploited.
Let me put it this way. If I threw my phone in the river, it would do a quantifiable amount of damage to their plans - but not to mine.
Thanks for sharing! I seek solace in the fact that they are as incompetent as they are ill-intentioned.
Palantir just sold a ton of their product to the military and is used by fbi, and dhs. How do we secure ourselves as a civilian?
I would be far more concerned about the sheer amount of information that companies like Google and social media platforms have about you. About how your phone is always on you and part of your every day life. Palantir's analytical tools are only as good as the data they get.
As someone who has worked in tech for 25 years, this article really showcases the true nature of tech. Both so good and soooo bad when in the wrong hands. Thank you so much for your perspective and contribution.
Fantastic article! So important for people to share this. I started reading it then lost track of it and spent the past 3 days trying to find it again. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for reading and sharing! More people need to know their ultimate intentions. Appreciate your readership!
Yes, well said. Thanks for sharing!
This is an outstanding piece and utterly terrifying. I’ve been in the tech industry since mid 90s and god it angers me that they are so greedy and power hungry. I believed technology could be used for good, and it’s disgusting what is going on now. One thing you said jumped out - “AI determining government benefits, social security payments and aid distribution” - I have been saying this for months on end and believe that this is how it will be. AI will absolutely be determining which of us are loyal and receiving benefits and which are going to be left to fight for our lives.
Outstanding summary of the awfulness of the immediate situation. As the daughter of the founder of the Computer and Communications Industry Association (“Jack the Giant Killer” Biddle —advocate for Anti-trust actions and Open Systems) I applaud your synthesis and add my voice for its wide dissemination and for the urgency of taking the regenerative actions it impels. Keep me posted!
What can we do?
great article!