A Shift Toward Public and Cooperative Management
In our current landscape, AI and critical resources are largely controlled by private corporations, which often prioritize profit over collective well‑being. This approach risks deepening inequality by concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a few.
Why Change is Essential
Transitioning to public or cooperative ownership of AI and resources is not merely an economic adjustment—it is a societal imperative. Such a shift can ensure that the benefits of technological advances are shared equitably, fostering a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous society.
- Equitable Distribution: Ensuring that AI innovations serve all, rather than a limited elite.
- Enhanced Accountability: Public oversight or cooperative management brings transparency and accountability to the development and deployment of AI technologies.
- Social Empowerment: Empowering communities to have a say in how critical resources and technological advancements are used fosters a more participatory and democratic society.
Pathways to Public and Cooperative Ownership
Moving away from private control involves rethinking our regulatory and ownership structures. Possible strategies include:
- Public Investment: Governments and community organizations can invest in AI research and infrastructure, ensuring that outcomes benefit society as a whole.
- Cooperative Models: Establishing cooperatives where stakeholders—workers, consumers, and community members—jointly own and govern AI platforms and resources.
- Policy Reforms: Enacting policies that promote transparency, mandate profit-sharing, or incentivize public-private partnerships designed to distribute technological gains equitably.
Toward a More Equitable Future
By reorienting the ownership of key AI platforms and other critical resources from private corporate entities to public or cooperative structures, we pave the way for a future where:
- Technology serves as a tool for universal prosperity.
- Wealth and benefits are distributed fairly.
- Every citizen is empowered to participate in managing the digital future.
What we’re proposing isn’t about stripping individuals of their property rights for everyday items. Instead, it’s about creating a framework where ownership and control over critical assets are determined collectively—where decisions are made jointly to ensure that technology, wealth, and essential systems serve collective welfare. The ultimate question, “what is owned by individuals in an abundance economy?” invites us to rethink our underlying values. While many innovations and structural assets may be managed collectively to maximize societal benefit, personal objects—like your watch, your clothes, and even your home—remain a reflection of individual achievement, expression, and a private connection to the broader social fabric.
Furthermore, not all AI falls under collective ownership. Certain AI systems that are not deemed essential societal infrastructure may continue to be owned by the entities that develop them. This raises another important question: What should we classify as essential societal infrastructure? We propose that both traditional physical infrastructure—such as energy grids, transportation networks, and public communication systems—and newer foundational societal systems—such as AI governance, digital platforms, and collaborative frameworks—deserve collective stewardship rather than isolated control. These assets are not just critical for operational function; they form the foundation of trust, inclusivity, and shared prosperity within an abundance economy.
Platforms that Rise from Abundance Economics
These are platforms that emerge from the principles of abundance economics, facilitating equitable participation, access, and shared prosperity:
Decentralized Governance Platforms: Systems that enable open, transparent decision-making and participatory policy design—like liquid democracy frameworks or decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).
Publicly Accessible AI Systems: Foundational AI models designed for public use rather than corporate monopolization, ensuring tools remain open, ethical, and transparent.
Universal Knowledge Repositories: Open-access educational platforms that provide unrestricted information-sharing, similar to public digital libraries, but without monetization barriers.
Resource Allocation Platforms: Digital systems ensuring fair access to resources—tracking, distributing, and optimizing renewable energy, food supplies, or housing availability efficiently.
Collaboration & Shared Innovation Spaces: Platforms fostering open-source development, crowdsourced problem-solving, and cooperative research—breaking down traditional competitive silos.
Excluded or Non-Foundational Platforms
Certain digital platforms—though useful—do not fall under foundational societal systems because they operate primarily within scarcity-based economic models:
Private Corporate AI Systems: AI tools developed for profit-driven enterprises without transparent accessibility or public oversight.
Closed, Competitive Marketplaces: Platforms designed for monetary transactions, profit extraction, and competitive advantage rather than broad societal equity.
Social Media Networks (as they currently exist): Traditional social media platforms, though influential, prioritize attention economy dynamics rather than fostering systemic trust and abundance-driven collaboration.
This distinction is key: digital platforms in an abundance economy must enhance shared trust and equitable resource access. If they function primarily on exclusionary or profit-driven models, they fall outside our proposed framework.
You Have a Direct Stake In What Happens Next
The shift to collective ownership of critical infrastructure AI and resources requires bold ideas, resilient policies, and community engagement. Join us in championing a future where technology is a communal asset, harnessed for the benefit of all. Together, we can build a more just and equitable society.