A Right Too Expensive to Exercise Isn't a Right
The author argues that major AI labs are using safety regulations and API-only access to create a 'moat' that restricts user autonomy and open-source development. By lobbying for strict compute thresholds, these companies are effectively making local AI development legally and financially prohibitive.
Why it matters
This critique addresses the tension between corporate control of AI models and the democratic ideal of open-source software and user sovereignty.
Frontier labs are locking the strongest models behind metered APIs and lobbying that open weights are a security risk. Licenses won't stop that. Architecture might.
The piece takes a strong stance against corporate consolidation and lobbying, reflecting a critical perspective on industry power dynamics.
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