AI Ownership
AI Ownership
AI Ownership refers to who controls the most powerful AI systems and their outputs. Concentration among a few companies, countries, or individuals creates different risks than broad distribution. Ownership structure shapes incentives, accountability, and the distribution of AI benefits.
For interactive exploration of how AI Ownership relates to other factors, see the AI Transition Model Graph.
Key Dimensions
Section titled “Key Dimensions”Relationship to Scenarios
Section titled “Relationship to Scenarios”AI Ownership primarily affects Long-term Lock-inRiskLock-inComprehensive analysis of AI lock-in scenarios where values, systems, or power structures become permanently entrenched. Documents evidence including Big Tech's 66-70% cloud control, AI surveillanc...Quality: 64/100 scenarios:
- Concentrated ownership shapes what values and power structures get entrenched
- Ownership patterns determine accountability and reversibility
- Distribution of AI benefits affects social stability
Also affects:
- AI TakeoverScenarios Ai Takeover OverviewScenarios where AI gains decisive control over human affairs - either rapidly or gradually.: Concentrated ownership could help or hurt depending on the actor
- Human-Caused CatastropheScenarios Human Catastrophe OverviewScenarios where humans use AI to cause mass harm - through state actors or rogue actors.: Depends on who controls AI and their intentions
Key Debates
Section titled “Key Debates”| Debate | Question |
|---|---|
| Concentration effects | Is AI lab concentration good (easier to regulate) or bad (single points of failure)? |
| Profit vs safety | Can profit-motivated companies be trusted with AI safety? |
| Open source role | Does open source AI democratize capability or make dangerous systems accessible? |
| US-China dynamics | Is competition inevitable, or can cooperation emerge? |
See Also
Section titled “See Also”- Long-term Lock-inScenarios Long Term Lockin OverviewScenarios involving permanent entrenchment of values, power structures, or epistemic conditions. - Primary outcome affected
- Concentration of PowerRiskConcentration of PowerDocuments how AI development is concentrating in ~20 organizations due to $100M+ compute costs, with 5 firms controlling 80%+ of cloud infrastructure and projections reaching $1-10B per model by 20...Quality: 65/100 - Related risk
- AI Transition Model - Interactive graph showing relationships
Who Controls AI?
The three dimensions of AI control, their drivers, and key uncertainties.
What links here
- Long-term Trajectoryai-transition-model-scenariodriver
- Long-term Lock-inai-transition-model-scenariodriven-by