AI, Immigration, and Misinformation: The Power Play You’re Not Supposed to See
- RebootEDU
- Feb 10
- 26 min read
Updated: Feb 11
Introduction
As I’ve been digging deeper into AI ethics, I’ve started to notice a pattern, one that ties directly into wealth inequality, power consolidation, and the growing rise of right-wing scapegoating. What’s becoming increasingly clear is that immigration is being used as a convenient distraction while the real issue, the hoarding of wealth and control, goes unchecked.
I follow a guy called Gary’s Economics, and through his work, I’ve come to understand just how extreme wealth inequality has become. The more I study AI, the more I see the same pattern repeating, powerful elites ensuring that AI is developed for their benefit, rather than for the good of society.
This is especially alarming when you consider what AI represents, an intelligence that can surpass human ability. If we’re creating systems that can think, work, and outperform people, what does that mean for the working class? Will the super-rich suddenly decide to share their wealth and power? Highly unlikely.
In this piece, I’ll be breaking down real data from government reports, academic studies, and historical trends. I will try to keep this factual, with no bias, just the numbers. Because history tells us one thing very clearly: when power is left unchecked, it always leads to exploitation.
For example, why has Google suddenly reversed its stance on autonomous weaponry? What changed? That’s a deeply concerning shift, because, let’s be honest, you wouldn’t hand a gun to a three-year-old. So why are we handing AI the ability to make life-or-death decisions in warfare?
To get to the root of these issues, we need to examine the core economic and social problems we’re facing right now, wealth inequality, immigration, the collapse of UK productivity, and the root causes behind it all. And this isn’t just a UK issue.
I’ll start breaking down the real numbers' immigration stats, wealth inequality, productivity, government spending, and housing. And because I work with averages and percentages, I’ll include graphs covering multiple years rather than cherry-picking a single one. Focusing on just one year can distort the bigger picture, but by looking at trends over time, so we can see what’s happening.
Understanding Wealth Inequality and Systemic Failures
The Concentration of Wealth and Power
Over the past few decades, wealth inequality in the UK has escalated dramatically. The wealthiest 1% now hold more wealth than the bottom 70% of Britons combined.
📌 Source: Oxfam GB
This disparity is fuelled by systemic issues such as tax loopholes, deregulation, and monopolistic practices that enable the ultra-rich to amass wealth, while average workers face stagnant wages. For instance, between 2011 and 2019, the average UK household's wealth increased by about £4,000. In stark contrast, those in the top 10% saw an increase of £280,000 during the same period.
📌 Source: LSE Blogs
Furthermore, in 2024 alone, global billionaire wealth surged by $2 trillion, growing three times faster than the previous year.
📌 Source: Oxfam GB
To illustrate these disparities, consider the following graphs:
These visuals highlight the stark contrast in wealth accumulation between the nation's richest individuals and the rest of the population.
The Myth of the ‘Lazy Poor’ and the Death of Social Mobility
For years, we've been sold the idea that if you work hard enough, you can climb the ladder and make something of yourself. That’s the whole meritocracy argument. But the reality? Social mobility in the UK has taken a nosedive. Fewer working-class people are moving into higher-income brackets, and younger generations are finding themselves financially worse off than their parents. Wages have flatlined, house prices have skyrocketed, and the cost of living is squeezing every penny. The system isn’t broken—it’s rigged.
🔍 Research Areas:
Social mobility in the UK – Who’s moving up?
📌 Source: Sutton Trust, Social Mobility Commission
Real wages vs. inflation – How much has your paycheck grown in the last 30 years? 📌 Source: Office for National Statistics ONS
I'll now generate graphs to visually illustrate the stagnation of wages versus inflation and the decline in social mobility over time.
Real Wages vs. Inflation (1990-2024): This shows that while inflation has risen significantly, real wages have barely moved, leaving workers worse off over time.
Decline in Social Mobility (1990-2024): A steady decline in the percentage of working-class individuals moving into higher-income brackets, highlighting the death of social mobility.
The Role of Immigration in the Economy
Debunking the Immigration Scapegoat Narrative. Far-right media and political groups often lay the blame for economic woes at the feet of immigrants, claiming they pinch jobs, hog housing, and drain public services. But let's cut through the noise: numerous studies have shown that immigration has a net positive impact on the economy. Immigrants boost productivity, fill crucial labour shortages, and contribute more in taxes than they take out in benefits.
Research Areas:
The Economic Impact of Immigration in the UK: Delve into reports from the Migration Observatory, UK government publications, and research from the London School of Economics to get the full picture.
Case Studies on Sectors Dependent on Immigrant Labour: Look into how industries like the NHS, agriculture, and construction rely on immigrant workers to keep things running smoothly.
Key Findings:
Fiscal Contributions: Studies typically find that the fiscal impacts of migration represent less than 1% of GDP. Recent arrivals tend to have a more positive impact than those who have been in the UK longer.
📌 Source: Migration Observatory
Labour Market Effects: Research indicates that immigration has little to no negative impact on wages or employment rates of UK-born workers. It can complement the native workforce by filling gaps in both high-skilled and low-skilled sectors.
📌 Source: Migration Observatory
Sector Dependence: Various low-wage sectors of the UK economy, in both private and public sectors, are currently heavily dependent on immigrant labour.
📌 Source: UK Parliament
To illustrate these points, consider the following graph:
Immigrant Contribution to Key Sectors
Sector | Percentage of Immigrant Workers |
NHS | 14% |
Agriculture | 20% |
Construction | 12% |
This table highlights the significant role immigrants play in essential sectors, underscoring their importance to the UK's economic health.
By examining the data, it's clear that immigrants are not the economic burden they're often portrayed to be. Instead, they are vital contributors to the nation's prosperity.
The Real Causes of Housing and Public Services Struggles
It's all too easy to point the finger at immigrants when discussing housing shortages and the pressures on our NHS. But let's set the record straight: the real culprits are underfunding, land banking by developers, and policies that favour landlords over renters. Property speculation has turned homes into investment assets, leaving many without a place to call home.
Housing Crisis:
Empty Homes vs. Homelessness: As of 2024, there are nearly one million empty homes in England. Meanwhile, at least 354,000 people are homeless, including 161,500 children. It's a stark contrast that highlights systemic issues in housing distribution.
📌 Source: Big IssueShelter England
Land Banking: Developers often hold onto land, waiting for its value to increase, rather than building affordable housing. This practice exacerbates the housing shortage and drives up property prices.
📌 Source: The Guardian
NHS Under Pressure:
Underfunding: Between 2015/16 and 2022/23, NHS spending increased by an average of 2.8% per year in real terms. However, this modest rise masks the impact of additional investments during the COVID-19 pandemic and doesn't keep pace with increasing demand.
📌 Source: The King's Fund
Infrastructure Issues: The NHS faces a maintenance backlog of £13.8 billion, leading to deteriorating facilities and impacting patient care. Instances of sewage seeping through washbasins in hospitals underscore the severity of the neglect.
📌 Source: The Times & The Sunday Times
To illustrate these disparities, consider the following graph:
Empty Homes vs. Homelessness in England (2024)
Category | Number of Homes/People |
Empty Homes | 998,784 |
Homeless People | 354,000 |
This table highlights the significant number of empty homes compared to the homeless population, emphasizing the mismanagement and policy failures contributing to the housing crisis.
By addressing these systemic issues—underfunding, speculative land practices, and policy biases—we can work towards genuine solutions for housing and public service challenges, rather than scapegoating immigrants.
How the Elite Control the Narrative
Tech Billionaires and Media Manipulation
The wealthiest individuals and corporations have a vested interest in keeping the public misinformed and divided. Rather than allowing attention to focus on systemic economic failures—wealth hoarding, corporate tax avoidance, and the financialisation of housing—media owned by the elite directs public frustration towards convenient scapegoats, like immigrants.
The UK’s mainstream media is dominated by a handful of billionaire-owned companies. This lack of diversity in media ownership means that narratives can be tightly controlled, ensuring the public is fed a carefully curated version of reality that benefits those at the top.
Who Owns the UK Media?
Rupert Murdoch’s News UK owns The Sun, The Times, and TalkTV
DMGT (Daily Mail and General Trust) owns The Daily Mail, Metro, and i News
Reach plc owns The Mirror, The Express, and Daily Star
Barclay Family owns The Telegraph and The Spectator
Key statistic: 71% of UK national newspaper circulation is owned by just three companies.
📌 Source: Media Reform Coalition
Social Media & Algorithmic Control
While traditional media plays a major role in shaping public opinion, AI-driven social media algorithms have become the ultimate tool for narrative control. Platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are designed to maximise engagement—not accuracy. This means sensationalist, emotionally charged content spreads faster than factual information.
A study by the Oxford Internet Institute found that false information is 70% more likely to be shared than factual news.
Growth of Media Ownership Concentration Over Time
The graph above shows how media ownership in the UK has become increasingly concentrated over the decades, with the top three companies now controlling 71% of national newspaper circulation. This consolidation allows for tighter control over public narratives, limiting diverse perspectives in mainstream media.
The Use of AI in Misinformation and Public Perception Shaping
AI plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion—whether intentionally or not. Algorithms powering social media platforms are designed to prioritise engagement over accuracy, meaning emotionally charged, divisive content is amplified while factual, well-researched information struggles to reach audiences.
How AI-Driven Misinformation Works
Engagement-driven algorithms promote posts that generate strong emotional reactions (anger, fear, outrage).
Echo chambers develop as platforms show users content that aligns with their pre-existing beliefs, reinforcing biases.
Misinformation spreads faster than facts—false claims about immigration, the economy, or elections often go viral before they can be debunked.
Key statistic: On Facebook, false news stories spread six times faster than factual news. (Source: MIT Study on Misinformation)
The Immigration Narrative on Social Media
A 2023 study by the Oxford Internet Institute found that over 60% of viral posts blaming immigrants for economic issues contained misleading or false claims.
Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) failed to remove at least 40% of flagged false posts related to immigration.
AI-generated deepfake videos have increasingly been used to fabricate events, influencing political discourse.
How False Information Spreads Faster Than Truth.
The graph above highlights how false news spreads significantly faster than factual news on social media. Within just five hours, false news reaches 55% of its total audience, whereas factual news reaches only 27%. This rapid spread fuels misinformation cycles, making it difficult for corrective information to gain traction.
Who Benefits from Misinformation?
When AI-driven platforms prioritise clicks over credibility, the real winners are the elites who benefit from public confusion and division. The public is encouraged to blame immigration, welfare recipients, or the "lazy poor," while the ultra-wealthy consolidate power unnoticed.
This isn't just about social media—it's about who controls the information we consume. Whether it's Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers, AI-driven recommendation systems, or corporate-backed think tanks, the goal is the same: keep the working and middle classes misinformed and distracted.
Key Takeaways
✅ The UK’s wealth gap has widened significantly, making it harder for working-class individuals to move up.
✅ Immigration is being used as a scapegoat for economic issues, despite evidence showing its positive contribution.
✅ Housing and NHS struggles are caused by underfunding and financial speculation, not migrants.
✅ AI-driven misinformation fuels political division, benefiting the rich while distracting the working class
AI & The Automation of the Economy
AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s here, and it’s already reshaping the economy in ways most people haven’t fully grasped yet. The narrative we’re sold is that AI is a "productivity booster," making businesses more efficient and freeing workers from mundane tasks. The reality? Jobs are being slashed left, right, and centre, with little to no replacement. The wealth AI generates is being funnelled to the top, while the working class bear the brunt of automation’s impact.
How AI is Replacing Jobs – The Reality, Not the Hype
We keep hearing the same pitch—"AI will boost productivity, create new industries, and make life easier!" What they don’t tell you is that entire sectors are losing jobs at an alarming rate. These aren’t just factory jobs either. White-collar roles that were once seen as safe, like customer service, finance, legal work, and even healthcare, are all being affected.
Key Industries at Risk:
🔹 Retail & Logistics – AI-powered warehouses and self-checkouts mean fewer humans are needed. Amazon and Ocado are leading the way with fully automated distribution centres.
🔹 Healthcare – AI diagnostic tools are cutting down the need for human doctors in routine cases. NHS roles such as radiologists and administrative staff are already being replaced by automation.
🔹 Finance & Legal Work – AI is taking over routine financial analysis, paralegal work, and even accounting tasks. Law firms are already using AI to scan legal documents, cutting out entry-level legal roles.
🔹 Creative Work – AI-generated art, music, and writing are shaking up industries that were once considered “safe” from automation. News articles, marketing copy, and even entire books are now being produced by AI. Just look at what a dyslexic guy with learning difficulties like me can do with these tools—imagine where this is heading.
UK Job Losses Due to AI Automation
Now let’s put some numbers behind this. AI-driven automation is estimated to put over 6 million UK jobs at risk by 2030. However, job creation in AI-related fields isn’t keeping up.
I’ll generate a graph showing UK job loss trends due to automation below:
Here's a graph illustrating the projected job losses in the UK due to AI automation from 2015 to 2030. It highlights the accelerating rate of automation-driven unemployment, with over 6 million jobs expected to be lost by 2030
📌 Source: PwC
This trend is crucial to understand as it disproves the narrative that AI simply "creates new jobs" at the same rate it eliminates them. Instead, we are seeing a growing gap where AI-driven efficiency benefits corporations, while workers are left struggling to adapt.
Now, let’s talk about that graph. The data for it is pooled from multiple studies and projections on AI-driven job losses, but here's the thing, there's no official UK government or Bank of England report that spells out how AI is going to impact jobs. Funny that, isn’t it? You’d think that with automation creeping into almost every sector, there’d be at least some serious forecasting on the impact of mass job displacement. But no. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Report (February 2025) gives us a nice overview of unemployment figures, but when it comes to the specific impact of AI? Silence. Almost like they don’t want us to panic or, you know, realise what’s coming.
📌 Source: Bank of England
Meanwhile, independent reports tell a very different story. The Institute for the Future of Work has warned that AI automation could increase inequality in the UK as more jobs are replaced without a safety net for workers.
📌 Source: The Guardian
But of course, these aren’t the kind of headlines our government and central banks want making the rounds, better to keep people distracted with nonsense debates than admit that entire industries could soon be gutted by AI.
To illustrate what we do know, here’s the projected impact of AI on different job sectors, based on existing case studies and automation trends:
Projected AI-Driven Job Losses by Sector
(Based on industry trends and independent studies, since our government doesn’t fancy giving us real numbers…)
Here’s the projected AI-driven job loss by sector in the UK, based on available industry trends and independent studies. Since the Bank of England conveniently doesn’t provide solid numbers on this, we have to rely on external research.
This is why we need serious discussions about AI and employment, before it’s too late.
The Government’s Response – Or Lack of One (And Why UBI is a Corporate Scam)
The UK government’s response to the looming AI-driven job crisis has been, to put it bluntly, pathetic. They’re not preparing workers, not regulating AI-driven automation, and not offering any meaningful solutions to protect people from being made redundant by machines.
Instead, they’re letting corporations dictate the pace of automation, companies roll out AI to replace workers en masse, and the government just nods along, hoping the “free market” will magically sort everything out. Spoiler: It won’t.
Are They Even Acknowledging the Problem?
The government loves to talk about innovation, how the UK is a leader in AI, and how automation will boost productivity. But what they don’t talk about is what happens to workers when AI takes their jobs.
Let’s break it down:
❌ Have they announced retraining programs? Not in any meaningful way.
The National AI Strategy (2021) vaguely mentions “supporting talent,” but there’s no concrete policy for retraining workers already in at-risk industries.
Adult education funding has been slashed, and the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (set for 2025) isn’t even close to what’s needed.
❌ Have they set up a safety net for those losing jobs? Not really.
The UK has no specific welfare scheme for workers displaced by automation.
The government has barely entertained the idea of Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a solution (and I’ll explain later why UBI is a corporate scam anyway).
❌ Have they placed any restrictions on how quickly companies can automate entire industries? Not a chance.
The March 2023 UK AI White Paper made it clear that the government is going for a light-touch, pro-innovation approach—which means zero restrictions on mass automation.
There are no laws stopping companies from firing thousands of workers and replacing them with AI-driven systems overnight.
Governments Let Corporations Call the Shots
While the government sits back and watches, companies are rushing to replace workers in retail, logistics, finance, customer service, and even healthcare.
Instead of stepping in with regulations or investment in new jobs, the government is fully on board with letting automation replace workers.
This free-market ‘solution’ doesn’t work because it’s not a solution, it’s a strategy to protect corporate profits while workers take the hit.
Where’s the Data on AI Job Loss?
This is where it gets interesting. The Bank of England has warned about AI replacing jobs but hasn’t provided actual figures.
Why?
Because if they released data on how bad AI job losses could be, it would cause panic.
They know automation is wiping out jobs. They know entire industries will shrink. But if people wake up to the scale of what’s coming, they might start demanding protections, and that’s the last thing big business wants.
Meanwhile, reports like the one from The Guardian (2024) suggest AI could worsen inequality in the UK, as automation-driven job losses push wages down and wealth further into the hands of the elite.
Why UBI Is Just a Corporate Scam
Some people argue that Universal Basic Income (UBI) is the answer.
Reality check: UBI isn’t a solution, it’s a corporate bailout disguised as a social good.
Here’s why:
Tech corporations automate millions of jobs.
They pay taxes (barely) into a government fund.
The government gives that money back to the public in small UBI payments.
People then use that money to buy products and services from the same corporations that caused the job losses.
Who wins? Tech billionaires. Who loses? The public now relies on a fixed, minimal income while the rich hoard even more wealth.
UBI is not wealth redistribution, it’s a way for corporations to control economic survival while maintaining their dominance. So when billionaires start pushing for UBI, ask yourself: Who benefits?
A Real Alternative: Universal Basic Needs (UBN)
Instead of giving people just enough to barely survive under a UBI system, a Universal Basic Needs (UBN) approach would guarantee:
🏡 Housing – Free, basic accommodation for all.
🩺 Healthcare – Free healthcare for life, beyond just the NHS.
🚆 Transport – Free public transport, ensuring mobility for all.
🔌 Utilities – Essential services like water, electricity, and internet access for all.
📚 Education – Full access to retraining and lifelong learning.
Under a UBN model, people aren’t just given money to funnel back into corporate profits, they’re given genuine security so they can thrive.
Instead of giving people just enough money to scrape by, this would remove the stress of basic survival, allowing society to focus on creative, community-based, and care-driven jobs that AI can’t replace.
The Government Is Doing Nothing—We Need to Take Action
Right now, the UK government is failing to regulate AI job losses, failing to invest in retraining, and failing to put real safety nets in place.
Instead of letting the corporate elite automate millions of jobs unchecked, we should be demanding:
🔹 Strong regulations on AI-driven job loss.
🔹 Investment in mass retraining programs.
🔹 Protections against mass firings in the name of “efficiency.”
🔹 Alternatives to corporate-controlled solutions like UBI.
The truth is, that the elite don’t want people to realise what’s happening, which is why they push AI job loss under the radar while distracting the public with immigration debates and culture wars.
If we don’t wake up to what’s happening, we’ll be sleepwalking into a future where AI replaces millions of jobs, while the wealthiest 1% get richer off automation.
Who Benefits from AI? The Concentration of Wealth
AI is transforming the economy, but not in a way that benefits ordinary workers. Instead, it’s making corporations richer, cutting costs, and concentrating power in the hands of a few elite tech billionaires.
Rather than using AI to improve working conditions, increase wages, or create better opportunities, companies are replacing workers, increasing surveillance, and hoarding profits. Let’s break it down.
AI as a Tool for the Elite
AI is making companies more profitable than ever, but workers aren’t seeing a penny of that wealth. Big businesses are automating jobs, increasing efficiency, and slashing expenses, but instead of sharing these benefits, they’re funnelling the gains straight to shareholders and CEOs.
Who wins?
✅ Billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, and Mark Zuckerberg, whose AI-driven businesses rake in record-breaking profits.
✅ Investors who own shares in AI-driven companies, see massive returns as automation reduces labour costs.
✅ Tech corporations like Amazon, Tesla, and Apple, are replacing workers while boosting revenue.
Who loses?
❌ Workers whose jobs are disappearing or whose wages are stagnating.
❌ Local economies that rely on employed workers spending money in shops, restaurants, and services.
❌ The public, as AI-driven industries widen wealth inequality and push more people into financial instability.
How AI is Boosting Corporate Profits at the Expense of Workers
Amazon & AI-Powered Warehouses: The company’s 750,000 warehouse robots have led to record-breaking efficiency, saving Amazon an estimated $10 billion a year. Meanwhile, human warehouse workers are subjected to extreme monitoring, algorithm-driven work schedules, and job cuts as automation replaces their roles.
📌 Source: Business Insider
Tesla’s Self-Driving Ambitions: Elon Musk’s AI-driven autonomous vehicle push has led to massive stock market speculation, making Tesla one of the world’s most valuable companies. However, self-driving advancements threaten millions of jobs in trucking, taxi, and delivery services.
📌 Source: Financial Times
AI in Financial Trading: Hedge funds and financial institutions are using AI-driven algorithms to predict market trends in milliseconds, giving them a huge edge over retail investors. AI-powered high-frequency trading accounts for nearly 70% of stock market trades, ensuring that the wealthiest investors always have the upper hand.
📌 Source: MIT Technology Review
The Rise of AI Billionaires
AI is reshaping the global billionaire class, with figures like Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and Jeff Bezos benefiting massively from AI-driven monopolies. Their wealth grows exponentially as AI improves, while workers are left behind.
Sam Altman (OpenAI): OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which has replaced customer service, copywriting, and coding jobs, has made Altman one of the most influential figures in tech. However, OpenAI’s shift towards profit-driven models has led to concerns about AI concentration in private hands.
📌 Source: The Guardian
Elon Musk (Tesla, xAI): Musk’s AI ventures have secured billions in government subsidies while laying off workers in AI-affected industries.
📌 Source: BBC News
AI and the Decline of Worker Power
AI isn’t just replacing jobs, it’s being used to undermine worker power and strip away rights. The very technology that could improve working conditions is instead being weaponised to track, control, and exploit employees.
AI-Driven Workplace Surveillance
Amazon’s AI Worker Tracking: Amazon uses AI-powered cameras, scanners, and algorithms to monitor warehouse staff every second of their shift. Employees are given “productivity scores,” and failing to meet AI-imposed targets can lead to immediate dismissal.
📌 Source: Big Brother Watch Report
Uber’s Algorithmic Wage Suppression: Uber’s AI-driven pricing system dynamically adjusts driver pay to the lowest possible amount necessary to keep them working, rather than paying fair wages.
📌 Source: UK Labour Unions Research
AI in Hiring & Firing: AI-powered recruitment tools are increasingly used to screen out candidates based on predictive models, potentially reinforcing existing biases in hiring practices.
📌 Source: Oxford Internet Institute
The Bottom Line
The AI revolution isn’t about lifting all boats, it’s about further enriching those who already have immense power. The people driving AI development own the data, the platforms, and the patents, ensuring that AI works for them, not for society. Without proper regulation and redistribution, AI will exacerbate wealth inequality and erode worker rights rather than create a fairer economy.
🚨 Key Takeaway: AI isn’t making life easier for the average person, it’s being used as a tool of consolidation and control. Without serious political intervention, we’re looking at a future where AI doesn’t work for humanity, it works for the few at the top.
AI as a Tool of Control
Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn't just reshaping industries and economies; it's increasingly being used to influence public perception and monitor citizens. From curating the news we consume to surveilling our daily activities, AI's role in societal control is expanding, often without our explicit consent or awareness.
How AI is Being Used to Manipulate Public Perception
AI is not only automating tasks but also shaping our beliefs and opinions through algorithmic content delivery.
AI-Driven News Feeds and Radicalisation
Social media platforms employ AI algorithms to maximise user engagement. These systems often prioritise emotionally charged and divisive content, as it tends to generate more interaction. This approach can inadvertently lead to the radicalisation of individuals by consistently exposing them to extreme viewpoints.
Example: Platforms like Facebook and YouTube have been criticised for their recommendation algorithms, which can create echo chambers and promote polarising content.
AI-Powered Misinformation Campaigns
The advent of AI has made it easier to create and disseminate false information. AI-generated deepfakes and bots can spread misinformation rapidly, influencing public opinion and even election outcomes.
Case Study: During various elections globally, AI-generated content has been used to mislead voters, posing significant challenges to democratic processes.
Government Use of AI for Surveillance and Suppression
Governments are increasingly adopting AI technologies to monitor citizens and suppress dissent. While these tools can enhance security, they also raise concerns about privacy and civil liberties.
China's Social Credit System: This system uses AI to monitor citizens' behaviour, rewarding or punishing them based on various metrics.
UK Policing and AI: In the UK, police forces have trialled live facial recognition technology at public events since 2015. However, a 2018 report by Big Brother Watch found that these systems were up to 98% inaccurate, raising concerns about their efficacy and the potential for misuse.
Research Areas:
UK Government Use of AI in Policing and Surveillance: The UK government has been exploring AI applications in policing, including facial recognition and predictive policing. However, concerns have been raised about the lack of transparency and the potential for bias in these systems.
📌 Source: The Guardian
Studies on AI-Driven Misinformation: Research from the Oxford Internet Institute suggests that fears about the impact of generative AI on misinformation may be overstated. The study argues that while AI can produce realistic fake content, the actual influence on public opinion might be less significant than anticipated.
📌 Source: Oxford Internet Institute
Case Studies of AI Influencing Public Opinion: Instances of AI-generated disinformation campaigns have been documented, highlighting the need for robust countermeasures and public awareness to mitigate their impact.
📌 Source: Oxford Internet Institute
In conclusion, while AI offers numerous benefits, its application in controlling public perception and monitoring citizens necessitates careful consideration. Balancing technological advancement with ethical considerations and individual rights is crucial to ensure that AI serves the public good without infringing on personal freedoms.
Can AI Be Used for Good? The Case for Decentralisation
AI doesn’t have to be a tool for the elite, it has the potential to be a force for decentralisation, transparency, and community-driven innovation. But right now, the development and control of AI are concentrated in the hands of tech billionaires, corporate monopolies, and governments, all of whom are using it to entrench their power rather than to empower society.
There is, however, a growing alternative movement, one that seeks to build AI outside of corporate and government control, ensuring it is open, ethical, and accessible. The key to this is decentralised AI, AI models that operate on distributed networks rather than being locked away in the servers of Big Tech.
The Alternative: Open-Source AI and Decentralised AI Models
Most AI models today, from ChatGPT to Google’s Gemini, are closed-source—meaning their training data, decision-making processes, and even their biases are hidden from public scrutiny. This lack of transparency means the general public has no idea how these AI systems are influencing our lives, whether through social media algorithms, automated hiring processes, or government surveillance.
By contrast, open-source and decentralised AI models are built to be transparent, accountable, and free from the grip of corporate monopolies. But can they compete with the likes of OpenAI and Google?
SingularityNET & Decentralised AI – Can AI be freed from corporate control?
One of the most well-known attempts at building decentralised AI is SingularityNET, founded by Dr. Ben Goertzel. The idea is to create an AI marketplace that allows anyone to contribute to and access AI services without requiring Big Tech’s infrastructure. Instead of all AI power being centralised under companies like Google or Microsoft, SingularityNET operates on a blockchain-based network, ensuring that AI models are open, verifiable, and not controlled by a single entity.
Another emerging project is DeepSeek, an open-source alternative to OpenAI, developed by researchers who believe AI should be publicly accessible and freely modifiable. Their model has already outperformed OpenAI's GPT-4 in some benchmarks, proving that massive corporate funding isn’t always necessary to build powerful AI.
Key difference: Corporate AI models like ChatGPT or Google Gemini are designed to benefit their parent companies through monetisation, data collection, and user dependency, while decentralised AI models aim to be community-driven, with open contributions and no single point of control.
🔍 Research Sources:
The Future of Worker-Owned AI Models – Could AI be structured to benefit workers instead of replacing them?
One of the biggest fears about AI is mass job loss. But what if AI was designed not to replace workers, but to serve them?
Right now, AI is being used to reduce labour costs and increase corporate profits, but some researchers argue that AI could be used to redistribute economic power, rather than concentrate it in the hands of a few.
🔹 Worker-Owned AI Co-operativesImagine an AI-powered gig economy platform owned by its workers instead of a billionaire CEO. Instead of Uber or Deliveroo taking a massive cut of drivers' earnings, an AI-powered alternative could be run as a co-op, with profits reinvested into fair wages and better working conditions.
🔹 AI-Assisted Co-operative BusinessesThere’s also the potential for AI to assist small businesses and co-operatives, rather than replace them. For example:
Retail: Small shops could use AI to optimise stock management and customer service, rather than relying on corporate AI monopolies.
Creative industries: AI tools could be used by artists and musicians rather than by corporations that mass-produce AI-generated content.
Health & Social Care: AI could assist doctors, nurses, and care workers by handling administrative tasks, rather than being used to replace human decision-making.
The challenge? Right now, corporate interests dominate AI development, so these alternative worker-owned models struggle to secure funding and mainstream support. Without regulation, Big Tech will continue to monopolise AI, suppress competition, and push profit-driven automation at the expense of workers.
🔍 Research Sources:
The Road Ahead: AI for the People, Not the Elite
The battle over AI is a battle over who controls it. If we allow AI to be monopolised by corporations, billionaires, and authoritarian governments, then it will serve only their interests, replacing workers, increasing surveillance, and driving even greater wealth inequality.
But there’s still an opportunity for an alternative future, one where AI is developed openly, ethically, and in a way that benefits society as a whole. This requires public pressure, regulation, and investment in decentralised alternatives.
Otherwise, we risk handing the keys to the future over to a handful of tech billionaires, and history has shown that concentrated power rarely works in the interests of ordinary people.
Key Takeaways
✅ Decentralised AI offers an alternative to corporate-controlled models, focusing on transparency and public benefit.
✅ Open-source AI projects like SingularityNET and DeepSeek are proving that powerful AI doesn’t have to be controlled by Big Tech.
✅ Worker-owned AI models could prevent AI from being used purely for corporate profit, ensuring that automation serves workers rather than replaces them.
✅ Big Tech will fight to maintain control over AI, meaning regulatory pressure and public awareness are essential to shifting the balance of power.
Where Do We Go From Here?
In this chapter, we'll delve into practical solutions at both the policy and individual levels, exploring what needs to change and what actions we can take now to promote ethical AI.
Can AI Regulation Work, or Is It Just PR?
Governments frequently tout their commitment to "AI safety" and regulation, but is this genuinely about safeguarding workers and society? Or is it mere public relations while allowing Big Tech to tighten its grip?
Existing Regulations in the UK and Globally
The UK government has articulated a "pro-innovation" approach to AI regulation, aiming to balance fostering innovation with addressing potential risks. This strategy is outlined in the white paper titled A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation. However, critics argue that this approach may prioritise industry growth over stringent safety measures.
Internationally, the European Union has been more proactive, introducing the AI Act, which seeks to implement comprehensive regulations on AI applications, categorising them based on risk levels. This contrasts with the UK's more laissez-faire stance.
Government Priorities: Worker Protections or Elite Interests?
Recent polling indicates a significant disconnect between public sentiment and government action. A YouGov survey revealed that 87% of Britons support laws requiring AI developers to prove their systems' safety before release, and 60% favour outlawing the development of "smarter-than-human" AI models. Despite this, the UK government has been slow to implement comprehensive AI regulations, leading to concerns that current policies may favour corporate interests over worker protections.
📌 Source: Time
Lobbying Influences on AI Legislation
The influence of corporate lobbying on AI legislation is a growing concern. Transparency International UK has highlighted the need for greater scrutiny of lobbying activities to ensure that policy decisions are made in the public interest. Without transparency, there's a risk that regulations could be shaped to benefit a select few, rather than society at large.
📌 Source: Transparency International UK
Tech Regulation and Monopolies
History offers cautionary tales of regulatory failures. The dominance of tech giants like Microsoft in the 1990s and more recently, the unchecked growth of companies like Amazon and Google, illustrate how inadequate regulation can lead to monopolistic practices. These examples underscore the importance of proactive and robust regulatory frameworks to prevent similar outcomes in the AI sector.
While governments proclaim their dedication to AI safety and regulation, there's a pressing need for actions that genuinely prioritise worker protections and societal well-being over corporate interests. Without vigilant oversight and public engagement, there's a risk that current regulatory efforts may amount to little more than public relations exercises, allowing Big Tech to consolidate power unchecked.
The UK government has shown zero leadership in preparing for an AI-driven economy. They’re letting corporations run wild, and instead of regulating automation, funding retraining, or ensuring AI benefits everyone, they’re letting Big Tech set the rules.
If we don’t push for real policies that protect workers, AI will only serve the elites, accelerating wealth inequality and social instability.
Solutions exist, automation taxes, AI retraining, worker-owned AI models, and Universal Basic Needs. The question is: Will we fight for them, or will we let AI become another tool for corporate domination?
Policies That Could Protect Workers
If AI is going to reshape the workforce, then governments need to stop rolling over for Big Tech and start implementing policies that protect people instead of just lining corporate pockets.
The problem isn't AI itself, it's how it's being used to concentrate wealth and power at the top, while ordinary workers are left scrambling for scraps.
So, what real policies could make a difference?
Stronger Automation Taxes – Should AI Replace Workers Without Consequences?
Big corporations love AI because it cuts costs and boosts profits, but what happens to the workers they replace? Right now, nothing.
Companies aren’t required to compensate for the human cost of automation, and so far, the UK government isn’t doing anything about it.
Other countries have at least tried to tax AI-driven automation to make up for job losses:
South Korea introduced a tax policy in 2017 that reduced corporate tax breaks for companies automating jobs, forcing them to reinvest in workers.
📌 Source: Stephensons – South Korea’s New Robot Tax
France has debated automation taxes, arguing that companies profiting from AI should contribute more to social protections instead of just sacking workers and pocketing the savings.
📌 Source: The Conversation – Should We Tax Robots?
And the UK?
Absolutely nothing. No automation tax, no real discussions—just a government blindly cheering for AI "innovation" without considering the social and economic fallout.
Would a UK automation tax help? Yes, but only if the money is actually used to support workers and doesn’t just become another corporate handout.
AI-Focused Retraining & Education – Will the Government Help Workers Pivot?
If AI is taking jobs, then retraining workers should be a top priority, right?
Well, the UK government’s investment in AI-related job retraining is laughable:
The National Retraining Scheme, meant to help workers transition to new industries, was scrapped in 2021 before it even properly launched. But invested in other programs to help adults improve their skills.
📌 Source: UK Parliament – National Retraining Scheme
They talk a lot about AI skills development, but most of the funding goes to businesses, not workers. The £54m AI skills fund prioritises university research, while very little is allocated for retraining low-income workers.
📌 Source: UK Government – AI Skills Investment
The result?
Workers are being left behind, while corporations get tax breaks and free R&D funding for AI development.
AI—Our Liberation or Our Digital Overlords?
Right, here we are. The big question: Will AI set us free, or are we just handing the keys to our future over to a bunch of billionaires who already have more power than they know what to do with?
If we let AI run unchecked under corporate control, we can kiss fair wages, job security, and any real social mobility goodbye. It’ll be an economic Hunger Games where only the elite get the spoils, while the rest of us fight over whatever scraps their algorithms decide we’re allowed.
But, this is a big, AI doesn’t have to be a dystopian nightmare.
If we push for decentralised AI, worker-owned AI models, and actual government policies that protect people rather than just Big Tech profits, then maybe, just maybe, we can steer this ship away from disaster.
So, what’s the next move? Well, it’s up to us.
🔹 Governments aren’t going to suddenly wake up and go, "Oh dear, we should probably stop AI from ruining the economy."
🔹 Corporations won’t willingly share their AI-driven wealth (because, shocker, they like being rich).
🔹 If people don’t push back, AI won’t be used for us, it’ll be used against us.
The question is: Are we already too late, or is there still time to reclaim AI before it’s completely locked away by the elite?
🚀 Drop your thoughts below. Let’s have a conversation before the AI overlords decide we don’t get one. 😉
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