[ethbr1]

> Nobody has ever raised the amount of money it will need, nor has a piece of technology required such an incredible financial and systemic force — such as rebuilding the American power grid — to survive, let alone prove itself as a technology worthy of such investment.

AT&T.

[j_timberlake]

The space race cost hundreds of billions in today's dollars, and AI could do a lot more for/to humanity than put a flag on the moon.

And I'm guessing Uncle Sam will want control of these AI companies anyway if AI starts looking even a little powerful/threatening.

[Gazoche]

> The space race cost hundreds of billions in today's dollars, and AI could do a lot more for/to humanity than put a flag on the moon.

That's a weird comparison. The goal of the space race was never to make money, and it was funded by the taxpayers, not VCs expecting a return on their investment.

[edzitron]

The space race was also not something with a financial outcome at the end as its main goal.

I doubt that Uncle Sam cares that much about controlling OpenAI.

[FormerBandmate]

The power grid itself

[downrightmike]

Via pure monopoly power

[ethbr1]

AT&T didn't have a monopoly when it started.

It just burned a ridiculous amount of money stringing lines.

[edzitron]

It also got broken up! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakup_of_the_Bell_System

[tazu]

Isn't that sama's plan with "safety regulation"?

[downrightmike]

No because even Nortel in canada was a required to buy at&t made phones