The Dystopian Dream of Silicon Valley's Techno-Feudalism

A Strange Alliance: From Subway Chokehold to Venture Capital

In the turbulent wake of the Trump era, a seemingly insignificant news item emerged: Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), the venture capital firm intertwined with Big Tech, hired Daniel Penny, the former Marine acquitted in the death of Jordan Neely. While Penny lacks a background in investing, his presence at a16z, particularly within their American Dynamism practice focused on government and defense tech, takes on a chilling significance when viewed through the lens of our increasingly automated and profit-driven society.

The Techno-Optimist's Manifesto: A Glimpse into a Billionaire's Worldview

Marc Andreessen, a16z's billionaire co-founder, paints a picture of a techno-utopia in his "Techno-Optimist Manifesto." However, beneath the veneer of futuristic optimism lies a chilling disregard for humanity and a distinct sense of victimhood. Andreessen rails against concepts like sustainability, social responsibility, and tech ethics, framing them as "zombie ideas" hindering technological progress. His vision hinges on unchecked AI development, unlimited energy, and the unshackled free market, promising a world of abundance achieved through perpetually falling prices. Yet, the reality of rising prices and widening inequality casts a dark shadow over this utopian dream.

"We are conquerors," Andreessen declares, revealing a mentality of dominance that seeks to dismantle public institutions and reshape society in the image of Silicon Valley.

The AI-Powered Race to the Bottom: Crushing Labor and Empowering Plutocrats

Andreessen's vision relies on AI to drive unprecedented productivity growth, even if it means human wages crash to "near zero." This echoes the historical pattern of automation being used to deskill workers and concentrate profits in the hands of the few. As Brian Merchant notes, these narratives of AI replacing workers are not meant to describe reality but to create a "permission structure" for those in power to acquire more of it. This echoes the early days of the Industrial Revolution when automation was used to justify exploitative labor practices.

This new form of "technofeudal capital," as Cedric Durand describes it, seeks to bring different areas of social activity under its control, creating a dynamic of dependence that ensnares individuals, businesses, and institutions. AI has become the new battleground in a war for economic dominance, with the potential to mint new trillionaires while leaving the rest of us in the dust.

Las Vegas: A Testing Ground for the Surveillance State

While Andreessen claims technology is blind to social factors, the reality is far different. AI is increasingly used to discriminate and control, impacting everything from housing and employment to criminal justice. Las Vegas, with its history of surveillance and a16z's heavy investment in its police force, serves as a chilling example of this dystopian future. From AI-powered drones and weapons scans to predictive policing algorithms, the city is becoming a testing ground for the technologies that will shape the future of law enforcement.

As Edward Ongweso Jr. observes, the tech industry's disconnect from reality is increasingly apparent, with half-baked ideas and narrow use cases inflated into grand visions of the future, fueled by an endless stream of capital and hype.

The Spectre of a Genocidal Telos: Building Bantustans in a Burning World

The dangers of these AI delusions extend far beyond misallocated resources and economic inequality. They threaten to narrow our institutional imagination, rehabilitate reactionary ideologies, and empower those who envision a future built on exploitation and control. The growing influence of figures like Peter Thiel, with their apparent interest in building the "worst possible future," raises the spectre of a "genocidal telos," a future where the environment is sacrificed, humanity is genetically and socially engineered, and the uncooperative are eliminated.

Andreessen's "techno-optimism" ultimately boils down to a quest for absolute power, a world where the Jordan Neelys of the world are left to wander the streets while their killers find employment with the very architects of this dystopian future.

The Need for Mutual Aid: Building Resilience in a World Gone Mad

For the rest of us, the non-billionaires, the time has come to build and strengthen local mutual aid networks. As the techno-feudalists race towards their dystopian dream, we must create alternative systems of support and resilience. The future hinges not on the whims of Silicon Valley but on our collective capacity to resist and build a more just and equitable world.