The Guardian | international
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Americans, this is your chance to slap down the tech broligarchs
The upcoming midterms are shaping up to be a critical referendum on the Republican party's allegiances. Specifically, the election will assess whether the GOP prioritizes the interests of powerful tech companies over those of the public. This perspective is highlighted in a Guardian opinion series focusing on America's political future. Rebecca Solnit argues that tech leaders often make self-serving pronouncements. For example, Sam Altman of OpenAI suggested accepting negative consequences for technological advancement. However, Solnit contends this argument paradoxically seeks to remove the public's agency in deciding these outcomes. Public sentiment indicates a desire for a pause on artificial intelligence development. Opposition to AI data centers is reportedly influencing numerous midterm election races. Americans are experiencing significant anger and anxiety regarding the impact of technology. This growing sentiment suggests a potential conflict between human interests and machine advancement.