Potential exploitation by totalitarian regimes

Classification

Domain

6. Socioeconomic & Environmental

Subdomain

6.1 Power centralization and unfair distribution of benefits

Causal entity

Human

Intent

Intentional

Timing

Post-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)

• 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)

• Increased power concentration and inequality

  A Survey of the Potential Long-term Impacts of AI: How AI Could Lead to Long-term Changes in Science, Cooperation, Power, Epistemics and Values (Clarke2023)

Other entries from Allianz2018

• Economic Risk Category · 6.2
• Increased income disparity Risk Sub-Category · 6.2
• Markets monopolization Risk Sub-Category
• Political Risk Category · 4.1
• Biased influence through citizen screening and tailored propaganda Risk Sub-Category · 4.1
• Mobility Risk Category · 6.5
• Cyber security Risk Sub-Category
• Liability issues in case of accidents Risk Sub-Category · 6.5
• Healthcare Risk Category · 5.1
• Alteration of social relationships may induce psychological distress Risk Sub-Category · 5.1
• Social manipulation in elderly- and child-care Risk Sub-Category · 5.1
• Security & Defense Risk Category · 4.2