‘Capitalism has to become more humane’: a Stanford economist on big tech, power hoarding and democracy
Mordecai Kurz argues tech oligarchs erode democracy through monopolies – and predicts how the trend may endThe billionaires of today are unusually aggressive in their hoarding of cultural and technological influence, according to Mordecai Kurz, a Stanford economist whose research connects monopoly power with political and economic inequality. In his new book, Private Power and Democracy’s Decline, publishing 19 May, he argues the US is living through an extreme version of a pattern that has repeated itself since industrialization: technological power concentrating in the hands of a few, which is eroding democracy.According to Kurz, technological moguls have long seen themselves as superior beings whose natural role is to shape society – so they have no problem disrupting the institution of democracy. During the first Gilded Age, in the late 19th century, as the US was enjoying its first ascent as an industrial powerhouse, wealthy industrialists like Andrew Carnegie and John D Rockefeller “invented all kinds of theories about human evolution”, twisting the logic of social Darwinism to convince themselves that their success was a sign they had been selected by nature to influence society, Kurz explained. Now, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has suggested his technology has a mystical potential to become a transcendent good. He’s also openly acknowledged it could lead to mass unemployment. Continue reading...
Sources & Citations
1 sourceMore Stories
Infectious diseases such as hantavirus and Ebola becoming more frequent and damaging, say experts
Pandemic report warns of growing global threat as health teams in Africa move to contain Ebola outbreak The world is becoming less resilient to outbreaks of infectious diseases, experts have warned, as health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda scramble to contain an outbreak of Ebola.The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) said in a report published on Monday that “as infectious disease outbreaks become more frequent they are also becoming more damaging”, warning that pandemic risk is outpacing investments in preparedness and “the world is not yet meaningfully safer”. Continue reading...
Read original · theguardian.comTrump moves to dismiss $10bn lawsuit against IRS amid reports he’s considering settlement
Settlement with the US government would create $1.7bn fund to compensate allies for supposed persecutionSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailDonald Trump moved to dismiss a $10bn lawsuit against the IRS on Monday, dropping his claims amid reports he is considering a settlement with the federal government that would create a $1.7bn fund to compensate allies for supposed persecution by the government.The Monday filing came just two days ahead of a 20 May deadline in which the judge overseeing the case asked the parties for briefing on whether a legitimate controversy existed – a requirement for any lawsuit – because Trump controls the IRS. Continue reading...
Read original · theguardian.comEx-assistant principal faces trial after six-year-old shot Virginia teacher
Ebony Parker is accused of ignoring warnings that the student brought a loaded gun to a US elementary schoolSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailA former assistant principal at an elementary school in Virginia is due in court for trial on criminal charges of ignoring warnings that a six-year-old student brought a loaded gun to school which was later used to shoot his first-grade teacher.Ebony Parker’s criminal trial is set to start on Monday in Newport News. Continue reading...
Read original · theguardian.comSome items in Luigi Mangione’s backpack won’t be used as evidence in trial, judge rules
Defense says police who arrested Mangione over murder of United Healthcare CEO didn’t apprise him of his rightsSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailThe judge overseeing Luigi Mangione’s Manhattan state court trial ruled Monday that some evidence gathered during his arrest would be barred from court.“The evidence found during the search of the backpack at the McDonald’s must be suppressed, including the magazine, cellphone, passport, wallet and computer chip,” Judge Gregory Carro said in his 18 May decision. Continue reading...
Read original · theguardian.comPurple pain: backlash over Mexico City’s ‘axolotlisation’ for World Cup
Mayor’s attempt to beautify the city with murals of mascot and plum paint jobs criticised as waste of resourcesThe giant purple axolotl peered up at Manuel Martínez from the black bitumen of the street. It was the second such painting of the rare amphibian he had walked past that morning. In recent weeks he had seen axolotl murals pop up in neighbourhoods across Mexico City.“It’s a waste of money,” he said. “You could use that budget for fixing potholes, traffic lights, security cameras. They’re spending on something that doesn’t benefit us at all – it’s just for tourists.” Continue reading...
Read original · theguardian.comSigns of ‘feeding’ ritual at dingo burial site shed new light on bond between First Nations people and canines
Never documented archaeologically before, evidence points to First Nations people caring for and nursing the animalGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe discovery of a millennium-old dingo burial site in western New South Wales, including evidence of a “feeding” ritual never before documented archaeologically, has shed new light on the longstanding relationship between the canines and First Nations people.The dingo was buried along the Baaka, or Darling River, in Kinchega national park near the Menindee Lakes. Continue reading...
Read original · theguardian.comExperts locate bodies of four missing Italian divers inside Maldives cave
Spokesperson for Indian Ocean island nation says they will try and recover explorers in next couple of daysRescuers have located the bodies of four Italian divers deep inside an underwater cave in an atoll in the Maldives, four days after they were reported missing.Searches had resumed after being suspended following the death of a local military diver during a perilous mission to try to reach them. Continue reading...
Read original · theguardian.comAndy Burnham says he will not try to return UK to EU
Burnham vows to have ‘relentless domestic focus’ in first speech since announcing Makerfield byelection runUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has said he will not try to return the UK to the EU, saying Britain would be stuck in “a permanent rut if we’re just constantly arguing”.In his first major speech since announcing his byelection run, the mayor of Greater Manchester said he would have a “relentless domestic focus” in Makerfield, saying: “Let’s fix our own country. Let’s get it working again. Let’s get it back to where people want it to be.” Continue reading...
Read original · theguardian.comThree youths in custody after Austin shootings injure four people
‘Actions appear to be random,’ says mayor as suspects also allegedly took aim at buildings and houses in Texas cityThree youths are in police custody after a spree of at least 10 shootings wounded four people who appeared to be targeted randomly in Austin, Texas, according to authorities.The suspects who were arrested in connection with the shootings also allegedly took aim at various buildings and houses while driving around the capital city in stolen cars, the Austin police chief, Lisa Davis, said Sunday. Before the suspects were jailed, city officials temporarily ordered people residing in a large southern section of Austin to shelter in place, an exceptional public safety measure that spoke to the indiscriminate nature of the spree. Continue reading...
Read original · theguardian.comEx-Google CEO Eric Schmidt booed after AI remarks at Arizona commencement
Pew research shows Americans are more worried than excited about AI as graduates voiced fears over jobsA former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, was met with students’ boos at a university commencement address in Arizona on Sunday when he raised the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and its effects.Schmidt – who led the tech giant for more than a decade, acquiring a multi-billion dollar fortune in the process – was speaking to as many as 10,000 graduating University of Arizona students when he addressed the impact of modern technology on society. Continue reading...
Read original · theguardian.comLondon tube strikes called off at last minute
RMT union says two 24-hour stoppages from midday on Tuesday have been suspendedBusiness live – latest updatesPlanned strikes by drivers on the London Underground this week have been called off, the RMT union has announced.The union said that the two 24-hour stoppages from midday on Tuesday, which were set to disrupt travel over four days this week, had been suspended. Continue reading...
Read original · theguardian.com