AI's Real Problem: Not Jobs, But Accelerated Conflict and Shifting Power

The public discourse surrounding artificial intelligence has moved beyond the narrow question of job displacement to a more profound understanding of how AI accelerates conflicts. This acceleration stems from the simultaneous movement of information, reputation, markets, and public decisions, transforming complex issues into matters of power, legitimacy, and strategic leadership.

Recent insights from distinct sources underscore this evolving landscape. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, presented contrasting views in two documents: 'Machines of Loving Grace' (October 2024) highlighted AI's extraordinary potential if risks are managed, while 'The Adolescence of Technology' (January 2026) expressed significant concerns about the institutional, economic, and human risks posed by increasingly autonomous systems.

Adding another dimension, Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, 'Magnifica humanitas' (May 25), dedicated to safeguarding human dignity in the age of AI, aligns with the 135th anniversary of 'Rerum Novarum.' The convergence of perspectives from a leading AI company, a prominent technological voice, and the Vatican reveals a shared tension.

Amodei's metaphor of 'a country of geniuses in a data center' powerfully illustrates how contemporary power may increasingly be measured not just by traditional metrics like territory or capital, but by computational capacity, analytical speed, and the ability to influence millions in real-time. This shift profoundly impacts businesses, governments, and individuals, as digital operations can rapidly destroy economic value and false narratives can sway judicial decisions before they are even made.

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Amodei utiliza en The Adolescence of Technology una imagen fuerte: la posible aparición de algo parecido a “un país de genios en un data center”.