(Mercola)—In the fast-paced world of technological innovation, few figures loom as large as Sam Altman, the chief executive officer and co-founder of OpenAI. Altman’s recent proposal to raise funds for a groundbreaking tech initiative has captured the attention of investors and industry insiders alike.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Altman is in talks with investors, including the United Arab Emirates government, to secure funding for an audacious plan that aims to revolutionize the world’s chip-building capacity and expand its ability to power artificial intelligence (AI).¹

The scale of Altman’s vision is staggering, with estimates suggesting that the project could require raising as much as $5 trillion to $7 trillion — the largest investment in history and an unprecedented sum by any measure.

Altman’s Vision: A $7 Trillion Investment Set to Revolutionize Tech and Beyond

At its core, Altman’s proposal seeks to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the tech industry today. As reported by The Wall Street Journal:²

“The fundraising plans, which face significant obstacles, are aimed at solving constraints to OpenAI’s growth, including the scarcity of the pricey AI chips required to train large language models behind AI systems such as ChatGPT.

Altman has often complained that there aren’t enough of these kinds of chips — known as graphics-processing units, or GPUs — to power OpenAI’s quest for artificial general intelligence, which it defines as systems that are broadly smarter than humans.”

By boosting chip-building capacity and enhancing AI capabilities, the initiative promises to reshape not only the technological landscape but also market dynamics, societal structures — indeed the very fabric of human existence. To ignore the implications of this type of investment would be to bury one’s head in the sand, for it will undoubtedly revolutionize everything in ways we can scarcely imagine.

However, as with any ambitious endeavor, Altman’s plan has not been without its detractors. Critics have raised concerns about the feasibility and implications of such a massive investment, questioning whether the benefits will outweigh the costs in the long run.

Undoubtedly, a potential $7 trillion investment has the capacity to ignite substantial changes in global economic dynamics if realized. This unparalleled influx of capital has the potential to stimulate substantial economic growth, spurring innovation, job creation, and transformative shifts across various sectors. And, while it’s impossible to predict the exact outcomes, the fact that it could lead to groundbreaking innovations is a no-brainer.

Injecting such a large sum into any sector would likely disrupt existing market dynamics and lead to the emergence of new market leaders. Companies that fail to embrace technological advancements spurred by this investment would risk being left behind in the dust of progress.

Using AI to Unlock Rather Than Block Human Potential

With advancements in machine learning, deep learning and natural language processing, AI has transcended its early limitations to become a driving force behind transformative innovations across myriad of industries. In my view, one of the most profound impacts of AI lies in its ability to enhance productivity and efficiency across various sectors.

From manufacturing and logistics to finance and healthcare, AI-driven automation can streamline processes, optimize resource allocation and reduce operational costs. This not only improves profitability for businesses but can also free up human capital to focus on higher-value tasks.

There are pitfalls, to be sure, which I’ve discussed in “The Transformative Potential of ChatGPT in Learning and Efficiency” and “How to Use ChatGPT as Your Teacher,” but as far as AI taking over completely and replacing all human workers,³ that’s probably not going to happen, at least not to the extent feared, because, as reported by Business Insider,⁴ “human judgment still needs to be applied to these technologies to avoid error and bias.”

Anu Madgavkar, a partner at the McKinsey Global Institute, told Business Insider,⁵ “We have to think about these things as productivity enhancing tools, as opposed to complete replacements” — which is precisely the stance I’m advocating for as well.

As just one example, AI-powered tools can be used to help businesses make data-driven decisions with unprecedented accuracy and foresight. By analyzing vast datasets in real-time, AI algorithms can uncover patterns, trends and correlations that human analysts may overlook, leading to more informed and strategic choices in areas such as market forecasting, risk management and customer engagement.

Debate Ignites Over $7 Trillion AI Chip Project: Ambition vs. Skepticism

Addressing critics’ concerns regarding Sam Altman’s $7 trillion investment proposal for a new AI chip project, it’s undeniable that such a monumental sum of money raises eyebrows and invites scrutiny from various quarters. Comparisons to the entire federal budget, the U.K.’s GDP, or even global chip sales underscore the sheer scale of Altman’s ambition. As reported by Yahoo! Finance, Altman’s proposed investment is:⁶

“… more than the entire federal budget, twice the U.K.’s annual GDP, 13 times 2023’s global chip sales, or enough to pay for over two years of universal health care in the U.S.”

Referring to Altman’s vision as “showmanship” intended to draw “loyalist,” cult-like followings to AI rather than addressing genuine technological needs, critics like Silicon Valley investor Sam Lessin have voiced their concerns.^7,8

“You have to hand it to Sam Altman … the guy knows how to do marking in the modern era. But when you see people floating ‘trillion dollar’ fundraises in headlines you have to question what has happened to society/our system. Are we really at the point where the only way to blast through the news cycle is by anchoring on things that are completely indistinguishable from Onion headlines?” Lessin wrote in a post on X.

Another critic, Sasha Luccioni, a climate researcher at the open source AI platform Hugging Face, has emphasized the immense natural resources required for AI system and chip development and underscores the need for careful consideration of the environmental consequences, especially regarding water and rare earth minerals.⁹

Industry figures like Jensen Huang, founder of Nvidia, also express skepticism regarding the necessity of raising $7 trillion for AI chip development. Huang argues that the continuous evolution and improvement of AI technology will naturally drive down costs over time. He challenges the notion that such an exorbitant investment is warranted, suggesting that advancements in computer architecture will render such astronomical figures unnecessary. As reported by Inc.:¹⁰

“During an interview at the World Government Summit in Dubai … the founder of AI computing giant Nvidia expressed skepticism at the need to raise $7 trillion to overhaul the AI-chip-making process …

Asked how many graphics processing units (GPUs) he could buy for $7 trillion, Huang answered, ‘all the GPUs, apparently,’ poking fun at Altman’s figure.

‘If you just assume computers aren’t going to get any faster,’ Huang said, ‘you might come to the conclusion that we need 14 planets, three galaxies and four more suns to fuel all this, but computer architecture continues to advance.’”

Huang’s skepticism underscores the importance of balancing ambition with pragmatism in technological innovation. While Altman’s vision is undoubtedly ambitious, it’s essential to critically evaluate the feasibility and necessity of such large-scale investments in driving AI advancements.

Altman remains resolute, however. In response to critics, he tweeted,¹¹ “You can grind to help secure our collective future or you can write Substacks about why we are going [to] fail.” His terse retort highlights his unwavering commitment to advancing AI technology, despite the naysayers’ skepticism and concerns.

Geopolitical and Economic Implications

Should Altman succeed in raising these funds, it would carry significant implications, including the following:

• Domestic political impact — Within the US, such a substantial investment could spark debates and negotiations in Congress regarding budget allocations, government priorities, and regulatory frameworks for AI development and deployment.

It may also impact domestic policy agendas, with discussions revolving around job creation, education reform to meet the demands of a tech-driven economy, and addressing concerns about AI’s impact on employment.

• International political impact — The investment could intensify global competition in AI development, particularly between major powers like the US, China and the European Union. This competition could fuel diplomatic tensions and strategic rivalries as nations seek to establish dominance in AI technology.

It may also influence diplomatic relations and alliances as countries seek partnerships for AI research, development and deployment. This could lead to shifts in traditional alliances and the formation of new coalitions based on technological collaboration.

• Global workforce impact — Altman’s proposal could prompt countries to reassess their investments in AI and technology, potentially triggering a wave of increased funding in this sector globally. Nations with significant AI industries may then seek to attract investment and talent, leading to competition for skilled workers, research facilities, and technological innovation hubs.

Regulatory and Ethical Considerations

The regulatory challenges of Sam Altman’s proposed $7 trillion investment in AI would also be manifold. It would likely catalyze discussions on AI governance, ethics, and regulation at the international level, and more than likely, countries would choose to collaborate to establish common standards and guidelines for the responsible development and use of AI technologies.

But, if they don’t, differing regulatory approaches to AI could lead to companies choosing to operate in jurisdictions with more favorable regulatory environments. This in turn would encourage states or countries to make their regulatory framework as lax as possible, thereby allowing the technology to proliferate with few guardrails or safeguards.

Another major challenge would be to ensure fair competition and prevent monopolistic practices. This would be paramount, as the concentration of such vast resources in a few companies or countries could stifle innovation and limit market access for smaller players.

Additionally, managing data privacy and security concerns would be crucial, particularly as AI systems rely heavily on data collection and processing. Striking a balance between fostering innovation and protecting individual rights and freedoms would require robust regulatory frameworks and international cooperation.

Moreover, addressing ethical considerations, such as algorithmic bias and accountability for AI-driven decisions, would be essential to maintain public trust and confidence in AI technologies. Overall, navigating these regulatory and governance challenges would be essential to harnessing the potential benefits of AI while mitigating associated risks.

Consider ChatGPT as a Complement to Your Consciousness and Creativity

I believe ChatGPT and related technologies can radically improve your life if you use them carefully. ChatGPT, for example, provides radically more efficient information gathering in the moment, drastically reducing wasted time and effort in finding information that would allow you to achieve your goals.

The effectiveness of ChatGPT in learning and efficiency hinges on your perspective though. If you view it merely as an extension of your own mind, its potential is significantly limited. In fact, this view of technology radically increases your fear of it. This is because many people don’t understand that their mind and five senses have relatively limited data, compared to the ocean of data in their consciousness.

Your mind can be compared to a thimble that has a limited capacity to store information compared to the vast ocean of knowledge that is available outside our five senses in the realm of consciousness. ChatGPT can be used as a tool that complements and extends your own “ocean” of knowledge and creativity. It can then become an ally in the learning process, and an aid that fosters deeper understanding, stimulates curiosity and encourages independent thought.

By embracing this technology and integrating it into your workflows and learning processes, you can expand your horizons and enhance your own capabilities. I firmly believe that, if used in that spirit, ChatGPT can help us create a more informed, efficient and creative world.

• ^1, 2 Wall Street Journal February 8, 2024
• ³ Working Paper The Future of Employment September 17, 2013 (Archived)
• ^4, 5 Business Insider January 15, 2024
• ^{6, 7, 9, 11} Yahoo! Finance February 13, 2024
• ⁸ X Sam Lessin February 9, 2024
• ¹⁰ Inc. February 12, 2024

On Wednesday, the African nation’s Interior Ministry suspended use of the Worldcoin “orbs” to gather iris scans in exchange for a digital ID and some cryptocurrency. They intend to fully investigate what the company is really doing with the data and if any of it is safe. According to Reuters:

The project founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman launched last week. It requires users to give their iris scans in exchange for a digital ID, and in some countries users also get free cryptocurrency as part of plans to create a new “identity and financial network”.

“Relevant security, financial services and data protection agencies have commenced inquiries and investigations to establish the authenticity and legality of the aforesaid activities,” interior minister Kithure Kindiki said in a statement. Worldcoin did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kindiki said the government was concerned with Worldcoin’s activities, and agencies would probe how it intends to use the data it gathers. He said action would be taken against anyone who engages with its activities, without elaborating.

Local media have reported that more than 350,000 Kenyans had signed up for Worldcoin as of Tuesday, in exchange for free cryptocurrency tokens worth around 7,000 Kenyan shillings ($49.09).

Kenya is the first nation to act against Worldcoin, but other nations have already launched probes into the company even as the project moves forward. Watchdog groups in Britain, Germany and France are all taking a closer look.

Editor’s Commentary: This is either a direct manifestation of the New World Order’s push for total domination or it’s a red herring designed to distract us from the real near-future risks. There’s really no way to see Worldcoin in any other light when we consider what it does. Even the fact that it’s an “orb” that people stare into in exchange for receiving the means for their own oppression tells us this is globalist evil.

If you weren’t paying attention before, do so now. The conspiracy theorists of the past couldn’t fathom such an obvious ploy for globalist control. The cabal is laughing at the sheep for willfully prancing toward their slaughter.

Have you had your eyes scanned by “The Orb” yet?  All it takes is just one trip, and once your biometric data is in the database you will receive some free money and a new “digital identity” that you will be able to use all over the Internet.  Doesn’t that sound grand?  As you will see below, hundreds of thousands of people in Europe have already signed up.

Those that have created Worldcoin intend for it to be “a new identity and financial network” that is owned by everyone on the entire planet.  The following comes directly from the official Worldcoin website…

More than three years ago we founded Worldcoin with the ambition of creating a new identity and financial network owned by everyone; the rollout begins today. If successful, we believe Worldcoin could drastically increase economic opportunity, scale a reliable solution for distinguishing humans from AI online while preserving privacy, enable global democratic processes, and eventually show a potential path to AI-funded UBI.

That initial paragraph certainly sounds wonderful.  But once you start digging a bit deeper you quickly discover the dystopian details of this scheme.

Once you sign up for Worldcoin, your new “World ID” will be issued to you.  Ultimately, the goal is for the entire Internet to start using this new “World ID” system…

Worldcoin consists of a privacy-preserving digital identity (World ID) and, where laws allow, a digital currency (WLD) received simply for being human. We hope that, where the rules are less clear, such as in the U.S., steps will be taken so more people can benefit from both.

Needless to say, just offering a “World ID” is not going to motivate a lot of people to embrace this new system.

So the founders are also offering free money to everyone that signs up where laws allow for such a thing.

Ultimately, the goal is to “freely distribute tokens to all eight billion people on the planet”…

The goal is simple and modest: To create a system that will, eventually, freely distribute tokens to all eight billion people on the planet, as a form of universal basic income (UBI). But because the rise of AI will make it tricky to figure out who is human and who’s a digital fake, Worldcoin first needs to create a system that lets people — all people, across the globe — prove that they are in fact human beings.

The idea of a “universal basic income” certainly appeals to a lot of people out there.

Especially the lazy ones. But if you want your free money, you have got to visit “The Orb”.

The plan is for “The Orb” to eventually scan the eyeballs of every single person in the entire world.  Here is more from the official Worldcoin website…

You can now download World App, the first protocol-compatible wallet, and reserve your share. After visiting an Orb, a biometric verification device, you will receive a World ID. This lets you prove you are a real and unique person online while remaining completely private. As the global distribution of Orbs is ramping up, you can find the closest one and book time to be verified with World App and at worldcoin.org.

Worldcoin is an attempt at global scale alignment, the journey will be challenging and the outcome is uncertain. But finding new ways to broadly share the coming technological prosperity is a critical challenge of our time. We hope you’ll join us.

I don’t know about you, but I never plan to visit “The Orb”, and there is no way that I am ever going to allow these freaks to scan my eyeballs.

But it is imperative for all of us to understand that this is a very serious threat, because one of the guys heading up this project is also the CEO of the company that brought us ChatGPT…

If Worldcoin was the brainchild of some random crypto bro, maybe it could be laughed away as a delusion of grandeur. But the project has real intellectual heft. It was co-founded by Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI (creator of ChatGPT), who’s arguably the most central player in the development of AI. Altman suspects that the world will change forever if — or when — AI becomes so advanced that it achieves AGI, or Artificial General Intelligence, meaning it truly surpasses the abilities of humans.

Sam Altman is certainly a force to be reckoned with.

And now he is absolutely determined to get as many people into this new system as he possibly can.

According to Zero Hedge, hundreds of thousands of people in Europe have already had their eyeballs scanned and have been issued a “World ID”…

If reports are to be believed, the uptake in Spain, where the scheme first became available a year ago, is better than elsewhere – 150,000 participants in total, 20,000 new ones each day, and Barcelona is the place where a number of Orb scanners will be installed.

Portugal is not far behind, with 120,000 participants, and Germany is said to also be warming up to the project, ever since it started expanding two months ago.

All in all, some 2 million “biometric credentials” are now operated by Worldcoin.

It is quite interesting that Europeans are embracing Worldcoin so enthusiastically.

Whenever some new dystopian scheme comes along, Europe always seems to be the most fertile soil.

Why is that? Whether this new scheme ultimately succeeds or fails, it appears to be inevitable that the powers that be will try to force digital identification upon all of us one way or another.

And whoever controls the global system of digital identification that ultimately prevails will have immense power over the entire planet.

We really are living in perilous times, and things will continue to get a lot more “interesting” in the months and years ahead.

So I hope that you are ready for what is coming, because our world is starting to change at a pace that is absolutely breathtaking.

Michael’s new book entitled “End Times” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.

Article cross-posted from The Economic Collapse Blog. Image via Blockworks.

But even if we write this off as just another supposed sign of the apocalypse – and there have been many that have come and gone in recent decades – we cannot ignore the implications of how the Globalist Elite Cabal can and will use such technology to advance their dystopian dreams. Sadly, the masses will likely think this is something new and cool like ChatGPT or the Metaverse. They’ll embrace it at first for novelty, and if it becomes normalized they’ll embrace it for far worse reasons. Stay frosty, folks. With that said, here’s Ken Macon’s article…

Skeptics are watching as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s venture, Worldcoin, announces its launch. This Monday, the Berlin and San Francisco-based Tools for Humanity unveiled Worldcoin’s blockchain-based digital passport system – the World ID, together with its own cryptocurrency token, WLD.

With the promise of a cryptographically secured “proof-of-personhood,” Worldcoin seeks to distinguish real people from AI bots, setting the foundation for potential universal basic income (UBI) distribution. It does so by introducing its unique hardware, the “orb” – a silver orb roughly the size of a bowling ball – that performs iris scans to confirm the user’s humanity.

Follow Worldcoin on Twitter or download World App for the most up to date information on Orb locations & booking information. pic.twitter.com/q7wt7NIAdD

— Worldcoin (@worldcoin) July 24, 2023

The core of the Worldcoin ecosystem consists of the World ID, a digital identity, and the WLD token, which users receive upon creating a wallet. To secure a World ID, users need to submit an iris scan through the Worldcoin Orb, thus offering a verifiable proof of their human identity.

The founders envision World ID as a global digital passport that is stored locally on users’ mobile devices and utilized in a privacy-centric manner. It is designed to safeguard underlying data, including biometric, Know Your Customer, and Anti-Money Laundering data, using zero-knowledge proofs.

The project’s launch has sparked vigorous debate, as it has raised numerous concerns related to centralization, privacy, and security. Notably, critics have voiced worries about potential privacy leaks, increased challenges in maintaining internet anonymity, and possible security threats arising from the centralization of data.

Other than being generally dystopian and part of the path towards a checkpoint society, the primary concerns that have emerged are privacy and security. These are not unique to Worldcoin, but they are acutely relevant given its ambitious endeavor to redefine proof of personhood.

The heart of the privacy concern revolves around the collection and storage of iris scans. There is an inherent risk that if someone were to illicitly scan another person’s iris, they could potentially confirm that person’s World ID.

While Worldcoin emphasizes its software’s decentralization, the fact that the Orbs’ construction and distribution are centralized raises another set of issues. Without any means for external verification of the Orbs’ integrity, there is the risk of an intentional or accidental backdoor, which could potentially allow the creation of counterfeit human identities by the Worldcoin Foundation itself.

In addition to the aforementioned problems, the ecosystem’s overall security presents several challenges. There is the ever-present risk of user devices being hacked, and users could be manipulated into scanning their irises for malicious parties. The technological advancement in 3D-printing also presents the scary possibility of creating false identities that could pass the iris scan.

Despite the skepticism, Worldcoin’s debut on major exchanges such as Binance has seen a bullish run, with its token, WLD, peaking at $5.29 from an initial price of $0.15, as per Binance’s records.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has openly discussed Worldcoin’s approach to proof-of-personhood, acknowledging both the potential and the potential pitfalls of such protocols. In his view, the use of biometrics, specifically through Worldcoin’s Orb, raises questions about whether they are ethically acceptable.

Worldcoin’s two-pronged strategy, offering both a novel identity verification system and a cryptocurrency, has drawn comparisons to other projects. GoodDollar, a universal basic income platform, appears to share similar goals, as noted by eToro founder Yoni Assia.

As Worldcoin scales up its operations to 35 cities in 20 countries following a successful beta period with 2 million users, questions remain about how it will address privacy and security concerns.

Yet, the Worldcoin team is resolute. They argue that the World ID will be a necessary tool in an era dominated by AI chatbots like ChatGPT, where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between humans and AI bots. Altman is also the CEO of OpenAI which created ChatGPT.

Altman envisions Worldcoin as an enabler for addressing the economic transformation led by generative AI and foresees its utility in fraud reduction in UBI schemes, helping to combat income inequality.

While Altman considers a world run on UBI to be a distant future, the launch of Worldcoin signals a significant step towards this reality, even if it’s just an experiment for now. The ongoing debate about Worldcoin’s privacy, centralization, and security aspects only underscore the fact that the path to such a future is fraught with challenges and questions.

Article cross-posted from Reclaim The Net.