LessWrong (Curated & Popular) [Linkpost] “MAGA populists call for holy war against Big Tech” by Remmelt
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Sep 11, 2025 A psychology professor ignites a fiery discussion at a populist conference, declaring the AI industry a betrayal of national values. Panelists clash as emotions run high, underscoring a call for a 'holy war' against AI developers. The tensions boil over with accusations of tech founders being like historical heroes, juxtaposed with fears of technology's impact on society. This intense debate reveals the diverse and passionate perspectives about the future of AI and its role in shaping national identity.
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Heated Confrontation With Palantir CTO
- Jeffrey (Geoffrey) Miller publicly berated Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar at a conference, framing AI developers as traitors and threats to children.
- He urged populists to wage a literal holy war against AI developers as apostates and betrayers of the species.
Deep Ideological Distrust Of AI
- NatCon speakers painted the AI industry as globalist, secular, and aiming for mass unemployment and UBI-based communism.
- This view produced deep suspicion and emotional hostility toward tech despite acknowledging AI's potential benefits.
No Consensus On AI's Future
- Attendees varied from cautious acceptance to warnings that AI could cause civilizational suicide.
- Even fears of Chinese AI dominance and Trump's support for some AI funding failed to unify pro-tech sentiment.