The oligarchs of the tech world now have direct access to the most politically powerful man in the world – at the same time, Stargate is set to enable a generation of AI that could replace all human cognitive abilities. And then? Will the clearly demonstrated intentions of Donald Trump to erase queer or trans people from history and life be supported by the gay tech visionary Sam Altman?
When the oligarchs of the tech industry sat behind Donald Trump at the inauguration in the Capitol Rotunda—seats typically reserved for governors and ministers—they could not have foreseen the bombshell announcement awaiting them on Tuesday. Among the frenzy of meticulously planned measures, decrees, and declarations, the AI project Stargate was somewhat overshadowed, despite its potential to be one of the Trump era’s most consequential initiatives alongside the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organisation. This isn’t just about market power and technology—it’s about societal transformation: first in America, then in Europe. At stake are core values.
On Monday, the tech moguls presented themselves like a Mount Rushmore of the digital age: Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Sundar Pichai of Google, Elon Musk of X, X.AI, Neuralink, Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink (not to mention his new role as America’s “designated cost-cutter”). Further back sat Tim Cook of Apple, Larry Ellison of Oracle, and Shou Zi Chew of TikTok. Later that evening, Musk openly flirted with far-right symbolism at a stadium event—continuing his controversial pattern, which began in 2021 when he flashed a “White Power” sign during Saturday Night Live. This was before his acquisition of Twitter (now X) and its transformation into a platform that skewed America’s Overton window further right—something Trump hardly needed assistance with.
It’s clear that this new oligarchy of tech titans has a defined political stance, with even previously neutral figures now aligning. After all, global market dominance, spots on billionaire leaderboards, and chapters in the annals of tech history pale in comparison to direct access to the world’s most powerful political figure. The million-dollar donations each oligarch made to Trump’s inauguration fund seem trivial by comparison. “A government controlled by a small group for corrupt and selfish purposes,” defines the term oligarchy. They already have their demands: antitrust cases dropped, regulations scrapped, and competitors sidelined.
The AI Race Begins
Until now, the oligarchs had coexisted peacefully, each dominating their sector—Zuckerberg in communication, Bezos in global retail, Google in search, Apple in hardware, Oracle in software, and Musk in space, transportation, and public discourse. However, the emergence of artificial intelligence, spearheaded by Sam Altman’s OpenAI, disrupted this delicate balance. OpenAI’s launch of ChatGPT two years ago triggered a race to develop AI technologies, forcing these giants to compete.
Trump, with his instinct for power, saw an opportunity. On Tuesday, alongside Altman, he announced Project Stargate, a $500 billion investment in AI infrastructure. Named after the science-fiction portal connecting dimensions, Stargate aims to revolutionise data and energy systems. While partially funded by global entities like Japan’s SoftBank and tech firms such as Microsoft and Nvidia, Trump positioned himself as the project’s national champion.
The Emergency of AI Energy Demand
A key component of Stargate is addressing the massive energy requirements of AI systems—so significant that Trump declared it a national emergency. Musk derided the project on his company’s website, claiming Altman lacked the necessary funding—a rhetorical win for Trump, as infighting among tech moguls diminishes their collective influence.
If realised, Stargate could become one of the largest infrastructure projects in history, rivalling the U.S. interstate highway system, which cost over $600 billion in today’s dollars and symbolised post-war economic prosperity. By comparison, China’s Great Wall, often cited for its monumental scale, cost $95 billion in contemporary terms but took over 2,500 years to complete.
Cementing Tech Monopolies
Trump is not the first president to champion digital technology. In 1992, Bill Clinton and Al Gore framed the digital revolution as an “Information Superhighway” to prosperity. Early internet legislation, offering tax benefits and minimal regulation, fostered the growth of tech monopolies. This regulatory leniency remains, now protecting entrenched giants.
While Stargate funding does not come directly from the government, Trump benefits from presenting it as a national endeavour. OpenAI gains credibility, and Trump secures political capital as a tech visionary.
The Promise and Peril of AI
OpenAI openly states its ultimate goal: Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—systems surpassing human cognitive abilities. While AI already outperforms humans in specific areas, from writing software to diagnosing medical conditions, AGI would automate nearly all cognitive tasks, threatening jobs on an unprecedented scale.
At the DLD conference in Munich earlier this month, experts debated whether humanity could keep pace with AI advancements. The fear is not just job loss but societal disruption. While Altman touts Stargate as a creator of hundreds of thousands of jobs, the number displaced could far exceed that. The rapid pace of AI development starkly contrasts with society’s ability to adapt.
The question lingers: will projects like Stargate usher in prosperity or exacerbate inequality? For now, Trump and Altman are betting on the former, even as critics warn of the latter.
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