Design of AI

Classification

Domain

6. Socioeconomic & Environmental

Subdomain

6.1 Power centralization and unfair distribution of benefits

Causal entity

Human

Intent

Intentional

Timing

Pre-deployment

Subdomain definition: AI-driven concentration of power and resources within certain entities or groups, especially those with access to or ownership of powerful AI systems, leading to inequitable distribution of benefits and increased societal inequality.

Real-world incidents in this subdomain

• 17 Mar 2025LLM Scrapers Allegedly Target Multiple Open Source Projects Disrupting the FOSS Ecosystem
• 4 Jul 2021Coupang Allegedly Tweaked Search Algorithms to Boost Own Products
• 1 Aug 2018Amazon Allegedly Tweaked Search Algorithm to Boost Its Own Products
• 15 Jan 2018Gmail’s Inbox Sorting System Reportedly Reduced Visibility of Political Emails and Campaign Calls-to-Action
• 27 Sep 2017Google Fined for Changing Shopping Algorithms in EU to Favor Own Service
• 31 Dec 2016Amazon India Allegedly Rigged Search Results to Promote Own Products

How other frameworks describe this risk

• Monopolisation

  A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms (Abercrombie2024)

• Power concentration

  A Collaborative, Human-Centred Taxonomy of AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Harms (Abercrombie2024)

• Potential exploitation by totalitarian regimes

  The Rise of Artificial Intelligence - Future Outlooks and Emerging Risks (Allianz2018)

• Corporate power may impeded effective governance

  Foundational Challenges in Assuring Alignment and Safety of Large Language Models (Anwar2024)

• Global AI Divide

  International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI (Bengio2024)

• Market concentration risks and single points of failure

  International Scientific Report on the Safety of Advanced AI (Bengio2024)

• Market concentration and single points of failure

  International AI Safety Report 2025 (Bengio2025)

• Global AI R&D divide

  International AI Safety Report 2025 (Bengio2025)

Other entries from Giarmoleo2024

• Algorithm and data Risk Sub-Category · 1.1
• Algorithm and data Additional evidence
• Algorithm and data Additional evidence
• Balancing AI's risks Risk Sub-Category · 7.3
• Balancing AI's risks Additional evidence
• Balancing AI's risks Additional evidence
• Balancing AI's risks Additional evidence
• Balancing AI's risks Additional evidence
• Threats to human institutions and life Risk Sub-Category · 4.2
• Threats to human institutions and life Additional evidence
• Threats to human institutions and life Additional evidence
• Uniformity in the AI field Risk Sub-Category · 6.1