The Rise of the Tech Oligarchs: How AI is Replacing People in Government

“The greatest danger is not that AI will outthink us, but that we will stop thinking for ourselves, surrendering our judgment, empathy, and agency to a logic that was never designed for our collective well-being.” — Effenus Henderson

The landscape of American governance is shifting—rapidly and undeniably—toward a future dominated by technology. The presence of tech moguls at the recent inauguration was not just symbolic; it was a statement of intent. It signaled that governance, security, and decision-making will increasingly rely on artificial intelligence, algorithms, and data models controlled by a select few. But amid the celebration of this so-called “technological progress,” we must ask: Are we witnessing an evolution in governance, or are we sleepwalking into a system where unelected tech giants dictate the rules of democracy?

The Illusion of Technological Progress

There’s a growing belief that technology is an inevitable force driving society toward efficiency and security. AI, automation, and digital governance are being framed as necessary advancements. But this perspective assumes that technology is neutral, just, and beneficial. It is not. Technology reflects the biases and priorities of its creators—who, in this case, are not elected officials or public servants but corporate executives and venture capitalists with their own agendas.

The rapid dismantling of federal staffing in favor of AI-driven efficiency is not just a cost-cutting strategy—it’s an ideological shift. It replaces human decision-making with machine logic, allowing elected officials to sidestep the complexities of governing real people. Palantir’s Alex Karp, in his book The Technological Republic, envisions a future where predictive analytics, surveillance, and machine-led decision-making drive national policy. But is this progress, or is it the erosion of human agency disguised as innovation?

A Machine-Driven Civil Service

As AI takes over governance, we are witnessing a dangerous shift: public relations and human engagement are being automated. Instead of officials engaging with communities, AI-driven chatbots and automated responses shape government communication. Rather than fostering human-centered policymaking, technology is being designed to replace it. This is not inclusion—it is control.

Inclusion should mean ensuring that diverse voices shape policy and technology. Instead, we are seeing a world where access to technology is mistaken for equity. But technology that is built without considering human needs, emotions, and diverse perspectives is not progress—it’s exclusion wrapped in efficiency.

Who Controls This Future?

The biggest danger of this shift is that the architects of these systems are a small, privileged group. Without the input of people from diverse racial, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds, these technologies will serve the interests of the elite while marginalizing others. This is not an abstract concern—it is happening now. Programs designed to ensure equity in technological development are being dismantled. Diverse voices are being pushed out of decision-making spaces. The result is a system that reflects the worldview of a select few while ignoring the broader population.

The Reckoning Ahead

The idea that technology will lead us to a better future without human oversight is a dangerous illusion. If we do not embed diversity, ethics, and human wisdom into our technological systems, we will end up with a closed-loop system—one that benefits only those who built it while shutting out the people it claims to serve. True progress cannot be driven by technology alone. It requires human leadership, ethical oversight, and a commitment to equity.

The danger is not in AI itself—innovation will always shape governance. The real danger lies in who controls these innovations, who benefits from them, and who is left behind. If governance becomes a tool of tech oligarchs, fueled by AI and surveillance, then the people shaping these tools will shape the nation. And right now, the average citizen has little influence over these decisions.

Technology alone will not save us. It cannot create justice, nor can it replace the human judgment required to guide it wisely. The real test is whether AI-driven governance will serve as a force for inclusion or another tool of control—one that consolidates power while claiming to promote efficiency.

The question before us is not whether technology will shape governance; that is already happening. The question is whether we will allow it to happen without questioning who writes the algorithms, who profits, and who is erased in the process.

This is not just a moment of technological innovation. It is a moment of reckoning.

—Effenus Henderson