The growing importance of Artificial Intelligence in the economic, media, and geopolitical spheres is setting the stage for a potential technocratic system that can undermine and replace the democratic and even other political systems in place in the world today.
The problem primarily concerns democracies, which have been entering a phase of crisis for decades after the historic peak of expansion reached following the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Forms of populism, authoritarian drifts, fake news and other interference in media systems have begun to erode democratic institutions even in the most solid countries, such as the United States, where there have been disturbing episodes, such as the attack on the Capitol in 2021.
Against a backdrop of weakening democratic institutions, then, we have the ever more important role of Tech company leaders. The moment of Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, and the subsequent appointment of Elon Musk to run the Department of Government Efficiency, marked an emblematic moment in the undemocratic evolution of institutions. Subsequent diplomatic and reputational incidents have temporarily curbed the technocratic trend, but the problem remains.
Paradoxically, even in the autocratic sphere, technocratic power has appeared dangerous: the Chinese regime has taken drastic measures to take control of strategic tech companies. A famous case in point is the demise of Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, who had expressed visions at odds with the government.
Technocracy, particularly enhanced by Artificial Intelligence, is seen as a threat and potential competitor to all existing political regimes; conversely, the advent of technocratic states is often advocated by visions of transhumanism.
In particular, democratic institutions need to develop antibodies, which can result in regulatory frameworks such as the European AI Act, antitrust actions to curb monopolies, oversight agencies on the proper functioning of the media, including social and electoral consultations, and other measures related to the use of AI.
Italiano