Emperors, Gladiators, and Algorithms in Democracy's Public Square

Abstract: This talk examines how artificial intelligence is transforming the governance of public discourse through the lens of technology platforms' unique triple role: as market competitors fighting for dominance, as quasi-governmental entities ruling vast digital territories, and as developers of algorithmic systems that increasingly moderate and shape public debate. Drawing on recent developments—from the AI arms race triggered by ChatGPT to battles over free expression and content moderation—I analyze how this combination of competitive pressure, private governance, and algorithmic control challenges traditional democratic oversight. I argue that understanding this complex adaptive system is crucial for developing new mechanisms of accountability that can preserve both technological innovation and democratic principles in an age of AI-mediated public discourse.

The talk will be derived from my forthcoming book, Who Elected Big Tech? (Yale, 2026), as well as collaborative work with Jaron Lanier (Microsoft) and Audrey Tang (Cyber Ambassador-at-large, Taiwan)