Billionaire investor Marc Andreessen made waves on Monday with the publication of his extensive 5,000-word “techno-optimist manifesto.” In this manifesto, Andreessen expressed a range of views, including the belief that slowing down the development of artificial intelligence (AI) is tantamount to murder. The manifesto can be found on the website of his venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz.
Techno-optimism, as defined in a source cited by Andreessen, is the belief that technology can effectively address significant social and environmental challenges. Andreessen strongly believes that AI is a universal problem solver and can prevent a wide range of deaths, from car crashes to pandemics to friendly fire incidents during wartime.
In his manifesto, Andreessen also takes a stance against the notions of sustainability, social responsibility, and risk management, labeling them as enemies. He emphasizes the importance of the free market, stating that love alone cannot sustain an economy and that money or force is necessary.
This is not the first time Andreessen has expressed his techno-optimist views. In a blog post published in June, he argued that AI will be the savior of the world and called for government agencies and regulation advocates to step aside.
Andreessen’s views on AI diverge from those of other prominent tech leaders, such as Elon Musk and Sam Altman, who have voiced concerns about the potential threats posed by unchecked AI development.
Marc Andreessen, whose net worth is estimated at $1.8 billion by Forbes, is a co-founder and general partner at Andreessen Horowitz. This year, his firm led significant funding rounds for AI health startup Hippocratic AI and chatbot startup Character.AI.
The manifesto includes a disclaimer noting that the views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily representative of a16z, Andreessen’s firm.
Insider reached out to both Marc Andreessen and Andreessen Horowitz for comment but did not receive an immediate response as it was outside regular business hours.
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