Who Owns the Future of Artificial Intelligence?
06/27/2025In a new publication from the research project “Generative AI in the World of Work,” Florian Butollo and Esther Görnemann examine the consequences of the global race for dominance in artificial intelligence and develop policy recommendations.
The global AI race is being driven by a handful of powerful tech giants. With control over data, computing power, and digital infrastructure, they’re leaving smaller players—and the public interest—behind. The result: rising inequality, concentrated wealth and power, and mounting environmental costs from energy-hungry AI systems. What’s missing is democratic oversight of how generative AI is used. The authors argue that a transparent, public-interest-driven approach to AI is more urgent than ever.