EL SALVADOR, October 4— The inter-imperialist rivalry between the US and China turns technology into a battlefield. Meanwhile, workers face unemployment, exploitation, and environmental destruction.
Journalist Brian Merchant has questioned the obsession with apocalyptic scenarios. He highlights problems related to labor, surveillance, and technological infrastructure. His perspective opens up a necessary discussion: Are we focusing on the real dangers of AI, or are we failing to see who controls this technology?
“For us communists, this distinction is fundamental,” said A. “AI does not exist outside of society. It is the product of knowledge accumulated over generations by workers, scientists, and engineers. But under capitalism, its advances are controlled by imperialist corporations and states competing for profits, markets, and power.”
“The question shouldn’t be whether we’re ‘for’ or ‘against’ AI,” said L. “A machine can greatly increase productive capacity. But under capitalism, its benefits aren’t distributed according to the needs of workers. The central issue is who owns, controls, and decides how to use that technology.”
“If a company uses AI to produce more with fewer workers, the increase in productivity can lead to layoffs and greater exploitation. If it’s used to monitor us, it becomes a tool of control. And if massive data centers are built, their environmental costs fall on communities and workers,” said D.
“If technology allows us to produce more,” he added, “why does that have to mean that some lose their jobs while others accumulate more profits?”
The US and China: AI as an Inter-Imperialist Battleground
Washington and Beijing view AI as strategic to their economic and military power. Both compete for advanced chips, AI models, infrastructure, investments, and markets. The United States restricts advanced technologies destined for China, while China develops its own technological capabilities.
The mainstream media portray this as a race that one side must “win.” But win for whom? The US defends the interests of its ruling class. China pursues its expansion based on its own economic and state interests.
For workers in both countries, this competition can mean labor pressure, surveillance, militarization, and the subordination of technology to their ruling classes. “Why do we have to choose between the US and China if neither of them puts workers’ needs first?” asked C.
“That is precisely the discussion we must promote. We must not support any imperialist struggle. We need a communist revolution that ends the exploitation, environmental destruction, and unemployment we face,” answered A.
Questions Workers Should Discuss about AI
Here is the discussion that we should take to all ICWP collectives and to factories, schools, and neighborhoods:
What happens when companies use AI to produce more with fewer workers?
What happens when data centers require enormous amounts of energy and resources?
What happens when governments and companies use algorithms to monitor and control our workforce?
“AI could increase productivity, but under capitalism that can mean mass layoffs and greater exploitation. The environmental cost ultimately affects communities and workers,” we concluded. The problem isn’t just the machine. It’s who controls it and what they use it for.
We must not conclude that every risk cited regarding AI is false. Technological risks exist and must be studied. But we reject the idea that major powers and corporations should define how to address them and for what purposes technology should be used. Studying AI also means studying who owns the technology, who reaps its benefits, and who bears its costs.
Technology demonstrates that humanity has an enormous capacity to transform the world. But today it remains subordinate to competition among capitalists and imperialist powers. Technology must serve human needs, not imperialist competition or the accumulation of profits.
We workers do not need to choose among imperialists. We need to organize our class strength. The question is not which power will dominate AI, but whether the working class will allow our knowledge and productive capacity to continue to be used against us.
Let’s discuss Red Flag, study, and organize the communist struggle through the ICWP!