Experts Warn of A.I.'s Threat to Democracy

Rapid A.I. advancements raise concerns over concentration of economic and political power

Mar. 17, 2026 at 9:03am

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Experts warn that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (A.I.) poses a serious threat to democracy, as A.I. systems have the potential to concentrate economic and political power in the hands of a few elite companies and individuals. Scholars argue that A.I. could undermine the centrality of elections, diminish the voice of the electorate, and exacerbate wealth and income disparities.

Why it matters

The rise of A.I. has the potential to fundamentally reshape the political and economic landscape, with concerns that it could lead to the centralization of power and the erosion of democratic institutions. Policymakers and the public will need to grapple with how to ensure A.I. development benefits society as a whole, rather than further empowering a small group.

The details

Experts warn that A.I. companies have amassed vast troves of data and knowledge, giving them unprecedented power to influence markets, elections, and the behavior of individuals and governments. This could allow A.I. to supplant traditional political processes and transfer control to private corporations or political cadres. There are also concerns that A.I. will automate away many jobs, disproportionately impacting Democratic-leaning voters.

  • In 2010, Peter Thiel predicted that A.I. could soon exert control over nations without winning elections.
  • A 2025 Federal Reserve report found that A.I. competition is intensifying in advanced economies.
  • In 2023, economists Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson argued that A.I. poses a threat to jobs and could concentrate economic and political power.

The players

Peter Thiel

A multibillionaire co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies who predicted in 2010 that A.I. could soon exert control over nations without winning elections.

Daron Acemoglu

An economist at MIT who, along with Simon Johnson, argued in 2023 that A.I. poses a threat to jobs and could concentrate economic and political power.

Simon Johnson

An economist at MIT who, along with Daron Acemoglu, argued in 2023 that A.I. poses a threat to jobs and could concentrate economic and political power.

Erik Brynjolfsson

A professor of economics and director of the Digital Economy Lab at Stanford University, who warned that the current direction of A.I. could lead to extreme economic and political concentration.

Margaret Hu

A professor of law and the director of the Digital Democracy Lab at William & Mary Law School, who argued that A.I. systems and their "techno-kings" have the potential to manifest "almost monarchical aspirations."

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What they’re saying

“If we stay on the current path, the risk of extreme concentration — both economic and political — is very real.”

— Erik Brynjolfsson, Professor of Economics and Director of the Digital Economy Lab at Stanford University

“A.I. is definitely incentivizing the concentration of power. A.I. systems and their techno-kings have the potential to manifest almost monarchical aspirations.”

— Margaret Hu, Professor of Law and Director of the Digital Democracy Lab at William & Mary Law School

“Powerful A.I. can shift the optimal locus of control through two channels: (1) by codifying local knowledge that was previously tacit and inalienable, and (2) by expanding information processing capacity to aggregate, interpret and act on data.”

— Erik Brynjolfsson, Professor of Economics and Director of the Digital Economy Lab at Stanford University

What’s next

Policymakers and the public will need to closely monitor the development of A.I. and consider regulatory measures to ensure it does not further concentrate economic and political power in the hands of a few.

The takeaway

The rapid advancement of A.I. poses a serious threat to democracy, as it has the potential to undermine the centrality of elections, diminish the voice of the electorate, and exacerbate wealth and income disparities. Urgent action is needed to ensure A.I. development benefits society as a whole, rather than empowering a small elite.