A so-called "AI War"?

Putin's AI prophecy

So, back in '17, Putin dropped a bombshell: "Whoever leads in AI will rule the world." It was almost like that. This wasn't about tanks or nukes. This was about something deeper, something more pervasive. Algorithms and narratives, the silent weapons shaping society.

And then came the gen-AI explosion. Like a dam breaking, generative AI flooded the world. Was it a gift? A Trojan horse? Or maybe a strategic move in a larger AI war we never saw coming?

The world on fire

Take a look around. Social media is a dumpster fire, politics is a battlefield, and everyone's at each other's throats. Is this chaos organic, or is it by design? AI weaving its influence, nudging people left, right and centre (literally), turning society in on itself.

The tech we know is just the surface

The technology they let us see? It’s just the tip of the iceberg. The real advancements—AI, quantum computing, advanced nuclear reactors, a bit of cold fusion perhaps? —are happening behind the curtain. Google's quantum supremacy? Child’s play compared to what's likely running in the background.

Think about it—technology often emerges out of the blue, often from military or classified projects before it hits the mainstream. It’s no different now. The gap between public knowledge and reality gives room for a different kind of game, a game played with tools far beyond what we see. But you can see the effect.

Generative AI: A wild card

In 2020, generative AI hit the scene, and suddenly creativity was democratised. Was this an olive branch? Or a smart move—fire fighting fire in a struggle that had already started?

Look at Russia. Sanctions were supposed to crush them, but they're still standing. China, too—weathering trade wars, maintaining control. It makes you wonder if their resilience is partly due to leveraging AI-powered every simulation-possible tech, that could hold stability while the West fragments. But maybe, just maybe, generative AI is our wild card—something that puts the tools in the hands of the people, not just in the West mind you, letting many more push back against all those adversarial nudges in the dark. And even with a new set of nudges!

The hidden war

Think about the internet and GPS—both began in guarded labs. Now they shape our lives. The same could be true of AI. It's not just about generating poems or composing music. It’s about shaping reality itself.

Take the environmental debate. Yes mass industrialisation, technology, consumerism - wreaks havoc on global ecosystems. But the West bears the brunt of criticism, while China and Russia skate by without the same scrutiny. Coincidence? Or an orchestrated move to deepen divides and stir the pot?

This US election—Trump versus Kamala—is it just another spectacle? Certainly feels like it! But who knows if the real struggle is way behind the scenes, embedded in algorithms and data streams. Politicians, CEOs, influencers—they might all be playing a game they can’t even see.

The power of the critical mind

But there’s hope. For those who question, who dig deeper, who stubbornly make up their own minds—are a key line of defense. If you're one of those, you're the ones who have the gumption to see through the smokescreen—spotting any of those nasty hidden motives, resisting the programming with nudges gallore.

If you feel something's off, you might be onto something. The world’s a big stage, but some of us play a very different part it seems.

Is any of this true? Who knows. But it makes you think, doesn't it?

Whatever that may be. Stay sharp. Stay critical. Stay engaged. In this war for the mind, awareness is always our strongest weapon.