Vance and Trump: AI Libertarians' New Champions

In a move that has generated considerable excitement among advocates of unregulated artificial intelligence (AI) development, former President Donald Trump has announced Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential pick for the upcoming election. This decision has been met with enthusiasm by “AI maxers,” a group of libertarian-leaning individuals who support the rapid, unregulated advancement of AI technologies.

The Libertarian Appeal

The excitement surrounding Vance’s selection is rooted in his previous statements against AI regulation and the Republican Party’s platform, which aims to repeal President Joe Biden’s Executive Order on AI. This executive order, which mandates that developers of powerful AI systems share their safety test results and other critical information with the U.S. government, is seen by many in the AI community as a barrier to innovation.

Key Points of Interest:

  • Vance’s Background: Before becoming a senator and a vice-presidential candidate, J.D. Vance was best known for his memoir Hillbilly Elegy and his work as a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. He has strong connections to prominent figures like Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen.
  • Libertarian Support: Vance’s libertarian stance on AI regulation has garnered the support of techno-optimists and effective accelerationists (e/acc), who believe that big tech companies are promoting regulations that benefit them as incumbents and imbue AI with leftist ideology.

A Thriving Techno-Optimist Community

Following the announcement, influential figures in the techno-optimist community, such as Guillaume Verdon (known online as Based Beff Jezos) and Marc Andreessen, expressed their support for Vance. Andreessen, who authored a manifesto declaring any attempt to regulate AI as “a form of murder,” has pledged significant donations to political action committees supporting Trump.

Influential Voices:

  • Guillaume Verdon: Known as a patron saint of techno-optimism, Verdon tweeted a clip of Vance discussing “regulatory capture” by big tech companies.
  • Marc Andreessen: A prominent venture capitalist, Andreessen has highlighted Vance’s ties to Silicon Valley and his pro-open-source AI stance.

The Republican Platform

The Republican Party’s new platform explicitly states its intention to repeal Joe Biden’s executive order on AI, describing it as a measure that hinders AI innovation and imposes radical left-wing ideas on technology development. Instead, the platform advocates for AI development rooted in free speech and human flourishing.

Platform Highlights:

  • AI Innovation: Republicans commit to repealing Biden’s executive order and supporting AI development that promotes free speech.
  • Crypto Policies: The platform also opposes the Democrats’ crackdown on cryptocurrency, advocating for the right to mine Bitcoin and self-custody of digital assets.

The Broader Debate

While the support for Vance and Trump from AI maxers is not surprising given their libertarian bent, it is important to recognize that the debate over AI regulation does not align neatly with the traditional blue-red political divide. Biden’s executive order, while intended to protect consumers, has faced skepticism regarding its potential to stifle innovation in a rapidly advancing field.

Contradictions and Concerns:

  • Open Source Support: Despite their opposition to regulation, some AI advocates, including FTC Chair Lina Khan, support open-source AI models as a means to foster competition and innovation.
  • AI Development: Critics of AI also favor open models, arguing that they allow for better research into potential harms and ways to mitigate them.

As AI technologies continue to permeate various aspects of daily life, the political landscape surrounding their development and regulation remains complex and multifaceted. While Vance and Trump may not have unique qualifications to support AI development, their alignment with the libertarian values of many in the tech industry has certainly amplified their appeal among this influential group.

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