05/20/2026
In this blog, Jonathan C.W. Davis, our director of research, argues that artificial intelligence will not usher in the prosperous future that Big Tech claims. At least, not for all of us.
Jonathan draws on Derrick Bell's Faces at the Bottom of the Well and Karen Hao's Empire of AI, among other sources, to contend that Big Tech's aggressive pursuit of artificial general intelligence (or, AGI) through resource extraction, exploitative labor practices, and a "follow the leader" tool development approach mirrors past colonial empires where resources, wealth, and power accrued at the top.
But, we can change that trajectory to align more fully with justice and equity. It is not set in stone.
We must act now and take collective action to bring forth a future where we all prosper.
By standing united, we can reshape the path forward through three vital pillars:
Advocacy: Rising up against exploitative labor, land, and data practices to uplift alternative, community-owned technologies that truly serve local needs.
Technical Supports: Demanding platforms and safeguards that bring transparency to the hidden costs of AI development, ensuring data privacy and environmental protection.
Deepened Research: Building upon the crucial work of scholars who expose the racial, gendered, and environmental harms of current generative AI, pushing instead for tools that center our shared humanity.
Explore how the Equity Research Cooperative is engaging in this vital work, and learn how we can co-create a digital future that honors community, safeguards our environment, and celebrates collective progress.
By Jonathan C.W. Davis
