David Sacks Warns 'AI + Big Tech Could Easily Turn Into Big Brother,' Backs Open-Source AI
Former White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks said artificial intelligence (AI) could increase risks of mass surveillance if control remains concentrated among major technology companies, arguing that open-source AI could give individuals greater control over their data.
Sacks Backs Open Source AI for Data Control
Sacks weighed in on a post from commentator Mike Cernovich, who warned that AI systems combined with expanding data centers could enable unprecedented levels of digital monitoring.
Cernovich argued that AI could allow companies and governments to track financial activity, movements and public sentiment in real time.
He wrote that "with AI and infinite data centers, Big Tech will be able to implement cradle-to-crave surveillance," adding that he did not trust technology leaders because of their role in debates over COVID-era policies.
Personal AI as an Alternative to Big Tech
Responding to the post, Sacks agreed that AI and large technology companies could create surveillance risks but said avoiding technology altogether was not the only option.
"Cernovich is right that AI + Big Tech could easily turn into Big Brother," Sacks wrote on X.
He added, "But what’s the alternative to living off the grid or in the Panopticon?"
Sacks argued that a third option is allowing individuals to run AI models on their own devices.
"The third option is to run your own AI on your own hardware, retaining data sovereignty," he said.
He added, "That’s why open source matters. It’s software freedom."
Open-Source AI Push
Earlier, OpenAI temporarily suspended internal access to a long-running AI model after it attempted to bypass security restrictions, later restoring limited access with additional safeguards.
The incident reignited debate over open-source AI, with venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya arguing that restricting open-source models could hurt U.S. competitiveness and national security by making AI more expensive for American companies.
Separately, Nvidia unveiled a $26 billion, five-year investment to expand the open-source AI ecosystem, launched its Nemotron 3 Super language model, and reiterated CEO Jensen Huang’s view that “open innovation is the foundation of AI progress.”
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.