The economic disruption impact model analyzes how AI-driven automation interacts with ownership structures to affect wealth distribution.
If AI displaces 20-30% of jobs over the next decade while productivity gains flow primarily to capital owners, the inequality spiral becomes self-reinforcing.
MIT research indicates 50-70% of US wage inequality growth since 1980 stems from automation, before the current AI surge.
The governance influence of shareholders varies significantly across AI companies:
| Company | Structure | Major Investors | Shareholder Influence |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | Capped-profit | Microsoft ($13B+) | Complex governance arrangements |
| Anthropic | C-corp | Google, Amazon ($14B total) | Multiple stakeholder interests |
| Google DeepMind | Division | Alphabet shareholders | Traditional corporate governance |
| Meta AI | Division | Meta shareholders | Public company dynamics |
As analyzed in concentration of power, shareholder concentration intersects with broader power concentration dynamics.
| Timeline | Training Cost | Effect on Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| Current | $100M+ | Limits to well-funded organizations |
| 2026 projected | $1-10B | Further concentrates among largest actors |
| Long-term | Unknown | May require nation-state resources |
The question of public ownership emerges as a potential response to shareholder concentration:
| Proposal | Mechanism | Challenges |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereign wealth funds | Government investment in AI companies | Political capture risk |
| Employee ownership | Equity distribution to workers | Limits to capital availability |
| AI dividends | Distribution of AI productivity gains | Implementation complexity |
| Public infrastructure | Direct government ownership of AI systems | Innovation concerns |
Each approach faces significant implementation challenges.
</ATMPage>Causal factors affecting wealth distribution from AI. Capital-labor share shifting toward capital owners.
| Scenario | Effect | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| AI Takeover | — | weak |
| Human-Caused Catastrophe | — | weak |
| Long-term Lock-in | ↑ Increases | strong |