Technooptimism: A powerful political movement

Author: Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen; Compiler: Kaori, BlockBeats
Editor's note: The crypto world has never been just about finance, but also about political ideology. Inextricably linked, a16z and Vitalik have both publicly written articles expressing their political leanings towards technology before. The rise of emerging political movements such as the American Techno-Optimists mentioned in this article represents a challenge to traditional ideas and institutions, reflecting the increasing influence of technology on politics and society. This movement takes universal free market capitalism, support for artificial intelligence, and opposition to mainstream media as its core concepts. It builds political power through social media, podcasts and other channels, and speaks out on a series of major issues. At the same time, their influence has gradually penetrated into the political field, supporting candidates and participating in election campaigns, triggering widespread concern about the future political landscape.

In the United States, a new, powerful, and well-funded political movement is rapidly emerging: the techno-optimists.

Why it matters: This group—primarily affluent, white, middle-aged men with tech jobs, companies, or investment funds—use social media, podcasts, News items, as well as political donations and events, build an impressive but less organized political force.

These tycoons have changed the political landscape across social media platforms (X) and helped elevate the most threatening third-party candidate in decades (RFK Jr.) and built a strong and popular podcast network.

The rise of technological optimism

Read the message behind this: Technological optimism is this An imperfect name for a field movement. But it captured the dynamic spirit of an emerging ideology.

It's a general philosophy, not a political party - although some of the billionaire tech investors who support and drive the movement speak privately The idea that a political party might be formed soon.

A real political party may be just an illusion: individuals with huge egos, diverse interests and short attention spans.

What's happening: Currently, think of it as a loose alliance of very powerful people with large followings who share platforms, ideas , style and beliefs.

They own a social media platform: Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, where they wage war against conventional thinking and institutions. In 2020, X has transformed from a hotbed of mainstream media thinking to a hotbed of tech/anti-establishment thinking in this election. They high-fived each other with retweets and exclusive interviews with X .

They share a fairly common ideology: unfettered free speech, support for artificial intelligence, opposition to mainstream media, and opposition to diversity, political correctness, and elites The consensus was skeptical.

They have compelling philosophical statements, the most famous of which is investor Marc Andreessen’s “Manifesto of Technological Optimism,” which declares: “Technology is the human aspiration. and the brilliance of achievement, the spearhead of progress and the realization of our potential."

They have a growing media ecosystem that operates online and on Get tons of engagement. These writers—including Matt Taibbi, Bari Weiss, and Glenn Greenwald—regularly recommend each other and get promoted on big-listening podcasts like Joe Rogan. They have a growing media ecosystem that operates online and gets massive engagement on X. These writers—including Matt Taibbi, Bari Weiss, and Glenn Greenwald—regularly recommend each other and get promoted on big-listening podcasts like Joe Rogan.

"End DEI" Manifesto

What are they saying: Weiss, The Free Press founder, recently authored a popular anti-DEI manifesto called "Ending DEI," which is a hot-button issue within the movement.

"It's time to end DEI once and for all," she wrote. "No more standing by while people are encouraged to self-isolate. No more being forced to state that you will put an end to DEI." Identity over excellence. No more forced rhetoric. No more conformity to politeness."

Wes said in California, The Free Press It thrives by treating listeners, viewers and readers "as adults who can handle complexity" and adopting an attitude toward technology that is "more about curiosity than knee-jerk reaction."

"We shed light on things that people talk about privately but are hesitant to discuss or debate publicly," she said. "We give people the language to A tool for describing things they notice and may be skeptical about, but don’t yet have the words to explain or express.”

Nellie Bowles, formerly of The New York Times The technology reporter, now a columnist for The Free Press (and Weiss' wife), told us: "The tech-optimism movement is a backlash against a tired, constant denial, constant reaction."

"In terms of the obvious risks of reporting," Bowles added, "journalists over the past few years, and I have been one of them, for a period of time, have lost any A sense that progress is possible and even desirable, and [they] reject the possibility that some progress might make the world a better place. You could call it 'pessimism.' So there's an opportunity now for some degree of correction , to have an open mind."

Kara Swisher - will release "Burn the Book" on February 27th, a harsh look at Silicon Valley. Memoir - critical of the group and their mocking tactics. She thinks it's billionaire boredom and the need to stay relevant:

She said: "It's a false dichotomy - one that's due to someone "If you're not with us, you're against us" arguments are made without the ability to think clearly. You can be optimistic about many new innovations and still worry about its impact."

But the combined influence of the tech world is politically real — and growing.

You can see it when Ron DeSantis chose to announce his campaign at X instead of on Fox News (where he suffered a glitch disaster). He did so in an interview with David Sacks, a technology investor and co-host of the popular All In Podcast. Sachs has become increasingly political on X and on his podcast.

He's not the only one, Musk, Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, Bill Ackman and many others are tech optimists The activists' allies are inserting themselves into the politics of everything. They or their views have been widely shared on podcasts, particularly Rogan's, "All In" and Lex Friedman's.

Trump-Biden Battle Again

These are the people in the early days of the Republican presidential campaign The stage helped boost Vivek Ramaswamy and bolstered RFK Jr.'s third-party bid. They often do this through podcast interviews and releases on X. But they are also putting money into the effort.

Ackman, a hedge fund manager who is fighting an online offensive against college presidents over anti-Semitic congressional testimony blunders, announced in a lengthy tweet that he will Spending $1 million to help Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips in his long-shot bid for the Democratic nomination.

Horowitz, co-founder and general partner of Andreessen Horowitz, announced in a blog post in December that the venture capital firm’s partners , a partner known as a16z, will donate for the first time to support "candidates who are aligned with our technology vision and values" and oppose those who "seek to stifle America's advanced technology future."

Horowitz tells us that artificial intelligence will revolutionize warfare, financial systems and the daily lives of consumers. Therefore, technology companies other than giants such as Microsoft and Google need to exert influence. But "no one represents 'little tech,'" he said.

"As we move from Industrial Revolution-style systems to the Information Age and artificial intelligence-based warfare, global military superiority is at stake," Horowitz added. “The internet and our financial system are in desperate need of reform to make them more equitable and inclusive. So regulation of things like artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency may seem trivial, but getting them right is a huge benefit to our country. A vital presence."

Reality check: There are plenty of wealthy tech figures, from Bill Gates and Marc Benioff to Reid Hoffman and Mark Cuban, whose politics More traditional centrist or left-of-centre positions, and not stingy with money.

Many women in tech have exerted influence without the same loud touts of opposition, including Laurene Powell Jobs, Sheryl Sandberg, MacKenzie Scott and Marissa Mayer.

What happens next: If tech optimists have a presidential candidate, it's RFK Jr. But if they decide a third-party candidate is unviable, they appear more likely to turn to former President Trump rather than President Biden, based on their posts and podcasts.

They generally proudly support free-market capitalism, consider Biden, 81, too old, and embrace the regulation of thought and speech.

Final conclusion: It’s unclear how many votes they can influence. But tens of millions of Americans—especially white men outside major cities—listen to their programs, read them, or follow them.