The AI Gatekeepers: How Tech Companies Shape Human Communication

1. The Risk of Centralized AI Control

If companies can unilaterally block argumentation and the proposal of theories, it sets a precedent for AI systems to inherit and exercise this power, as tech companies increasingly become synonymous with social institutions.

This trajectory risks AI managing and controlling human communication, effectively centralizing influence over discourse.

2. The Case for Ending Censorship

‘By ending censorship, we return control to individuals, ensuring open dialogue and fostering accountability.’

This not only strengthens democratic principles but also enhances AI safety by preventing biased or unchecked systems from dominating human interaction.

If companies in the communication sector, such as social media platforms, news aggregators, and streaming services, continue to integrate AI into their operations, they effectively transform into AI companies.

This shift occurs because their primary value proposition becomes dependent on AI-driven systems that curate content, moderate discussions, and even influence societal trends through algorithmic decision-making on censorship and feedback systems.

3. Examples of AI Integration in Communication Platforms

Content Moderation: Communication platforms increasingly use AI to detect and remove content deemed inappropriate or harmful. While this enhances scalability and speed, it centralizes decision-making in opaque algorithms that reflect the biases and priorities of the companies that develop them.
Algorithmic Curation: AI algorithms determine which posts, videos, or news articles are shown to users. These algorithms prioritize engagement and retention, shaping public discourse and access to information based on business objectives rather than balanced representation.
Personalization: AI powers the personalization of feeds and search results, tailoring content to individual preferences. While convenient, this also creates echo chambers and limits exposure to diverse viewpoints, effectively controlling how users perceive and interact with the world.
AI as a Service: Many tech companies also provide AI tools to other organizations, extending their influence beyond their platforms. These tools, used for speech recognition, content analysis, or automated moderation, reinforce the integration of AI into the communication infrastructure.

4. From Platforms to Gatekeepers

‘When communication companies evolve into AI-first entities, they transition from platforms facilitating human interaction to gatekeepers of information and discourse.’

In this capacity, they indirectly manage societal communication norms and behaviours, often prioritizing efficiency and profit over ethical considerations.

Without checks and balances, this centralization of power increases the risk of censorship and bias, ultimately putting AI systems in a position to manage human communication.

5. The Threat of AI-Driven Censorship

‘To ensure AI safety, this trend must be addressed by promoting transparency, decentralizing communication systems, supplementing main communication system with “off grid” backup communications system, and upholding free speech as a foundational principle.’

By doing so, we can prevent technology from undermining democratic values and ensure that AI systems serve humanity rather than control it.

6. Shifting AI Focus from Control to Innovation

Lawmakers must move beyond the fantasy of using AI to control people, such as deploying it in the public safety sector.

AI’s potential is far better utilized in fields like 20 different types of engineering, STEM disciplines, and other areas that drive innovation, improve quality of life, and solve complex global challenges, aerospace challenges, marine challenges, and space challenges.

7. The Galactic Potential of AI

Overemphasizing its use in public safety risks misuse and undermines trust, while its transformative power in other domains (such as aerospace and space), nuclear (fusion and fission), propulsion technology and material science, offers far greater benefits for humanity, potentially galactic benefits.