tech
The AI bubble will pop. It’s up to us to replace it responsibly
When bubbles burst, what comes next can be better, if we build it differently
TL;DR
- Nearly 80% of stock gains in 2025 are concentrated in seven major tech companies vying for control of the AI stack.
- Current AI valuations lack clear paths to profitability, and many experiments fail to reach production.
- Much of the AI industry generates synthetic media and misinformation instead of public-interest tools.
- The problem lies in an economic model that treats technology as extractive, hoarding data and consolidating power.
- Open-source developers and mission-driven companies are building trustworthy AI infrastructure that is transparent, auditable, and locally adaptable.
- Companies like Hugging Face, Flower AI, and Oumi are examples of values-driven and competitive AI development.
- The dot-com crash led to the rise of open-source building blocks like the Linux stack, which now underpins much of the internet.
- A transition to open-source AI models could create billions in value for startups and businesses.
- The future of AI depends on choosing between rebuilding monopolistic models or designing a pro-human, values-driven economy with open models and transparent governance.
- The promise of AI is to improve lives without sacrificing choice or dignity, focusing on privacy, security, agency, and joy.
- Building AI that is open, transparent, and rooted in shared values can expand human freedom.