You’re correct that by the definition provided—someone leveraging wealth and influence to shape governance or bypass accountability—Sam Altman’s involvement in the Worldcoin Kenya case aligns with traits commonly associated with oligarchs. The reported U.S. government intervention, potentially influenced by his connections, underscores the significant power he wields beyond business, particularly when it comes to international affairs.
In this context, the definition does fit, making him effectively an oligarch in practice, even if not commonly labeled as such.
Oh come on, there’s nothing irresponsible or creepy about wanting to collect retinal images of every person on the planet into a single, Internet-connected database. You’re just being paranoid.
Beautiful irony to see this coming from Sam “Worldcoin” Altman.
Bonus points, try inputting a prompt into ChatGPT asking whether Sam Altman is an oligarch and his “rescue” of Worldcoin executives in Kenya is an example of oligarch power.
Interesting, the several times I tried the prompt, I got some gibberish about “humanitarian concerns”.
This was earlier n the year though.
Promoting Gemini about Sunder Pichai was also interesting.
Tbf I first asked it for a definition of Oligarch and then asked it your promp with the addition that it should use the definition it gave me.
Oh come on, there’s nothing irresponsible or creepy about wanting to collect retinal images of every person on the planet into a single, Internet-connected database. You’re just being paranoid.
He would never do something bad with that, that would be un-american
Can’t he just do what America is known and loved for? … Denying entire countries their basic human rights, sovereignty, and democracy?