โA driver of political violenceโ: how the breakneck AI boom is fueling anti-tech extremism
Backlash against AI is taking an extremist turn, following in the footsteps of earlier techno-pessimist militants Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email When a 20-year-old man from Texas was arrested earlier this year for allegedly trying to burn down OpenAIโs headquarters and Sam Altmanโs house, authorities found an anti-AI manifesto alongside his lighter and a jug of kerosene. It was one of a spate of attacks that has caused alarm among researchers, the tech industry and law enforcement about the rise of anti-tech extremism. In April, an Italian โnature pilledโ Instagram influencer was arrested in Rome and charged with plotting a series of anti-tech attacks that took inspiration from Ted โThe Unabomberโ Kaczynski. Two self-described โecofascistsโ that carried out a deadly anti-Muslim attack on a mosque in San Diego last month also cited โAI slopโ and JD Vanceโs ties to Palantir as motivations for their violence in their manifesto. An Indianapolis city councilor woke up earlier this year to gunshots being fired into his home before finding a note that read โNO DATA CENTERSโ. Continue reading...