Pedro Salazar warns AI is driving unprecedented concentration of power

Pedro Salazar, a professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and author of ‘Totalitarismo total’, warns that artificial intelligence is driving an unprecedented concentration of power. Unlike previous technological revolutions, AI is transforming not only economic production but also culture, public opinion, and the perception of reality.

Salazar argues that the convergence of economic, political, and ideological power poses a significant challenge to liberal democracies. He notes that the manipulation of ideas through algorithms undermines public deliberation, which is a cornerstone of democratic systems. The author also highlights the risks of normalizing AI use in warfare and violent operations.

In his analysis, Salazar points to the technological competition between the United States and China, as well as regulatory efforts in Europe, as key factors in this shift. He specifically notes that Latin America is particularly vulnerable to the erosion of democratic controls due to existing institutional weaknesses.