What is the danger?
Building frontier AI requires enormous amounts of money, chips, data and electricity — so only a handful of companies and states can do it. This could concentrate economic, political and military power to a degree never seen before, and weaken democratic checks and balances.
How it happens
- A few firms controlling the models that everyone else depends on.
- Governments using AI for censorship and population control.
- AI replacing the human workforce that power has historically depended on.
Real cases
The first International AI Safety Report (2025) warned that only a few companies can build leading AI models, and that relying on a handful of models in critical sectors like finance and defence creates single points of failure.
Source: International AI Safety Report 2025 ↗
What you can do
- Support competition law, open research and public-interest AI.
- Support transparency about who controls and audits powerful AI.
Frequently asked questions
What is the danger of power in AI?
Building frontier AI requires enormous amounts of money, chips, data and electricity — so only a handful of companies and states can do it. This could concentrate economic, political and military power to a degree never seen before, and weaken democratic checks and balances.
How does it happen?
A few firms controlling the models that everyone else depends on. Governments using AI for censorship and population control. AI replacing the human workforce that power has historically depended on.
How can I protect myself?
Support competition law, open research and public-interest AI. Support transparency about who controls and audits powerful AI.
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