Engineer Venkatesh Rao: AI elites may hoard intelligence like mercantilists hoarded gold

Engineer Venkatesh Rao compares the fear of AI to mercantilism in a blog post, arguing that many elites view intelligence as a scarce resource to be managed by experts, kept expensive, and restricted from competitors. He suggests AI may encourage more thinking rather than less, as previously difficult or costly projects become feasible, thereby increasing demand for creativity. The political focus should be on equitable access to AI, not protecting traditional knowledge-based jobs.