Cook donating to Trump is a vote of support for dismantling our Democracy and Gates is the OG techlord. Maybe he's not as crazy as the others, but he sure is happy to jump on the AI bandwagon, mine customers' info and exercise a problematic influence over politics. Here's just one example:
Not disputing any of that. Not saying they are benevolent forces. But truth matters. Accuracy matters. Especially in journalism, and especially when Trumpism is doing its Orwellian best to undermine the fact-based reality.
The article doesn't claim that Cook and Gates specifically ascribe to Yarvin's philosophy, but they do establish that the techlords are a threat to Democracy and humanity's future in the face of climate change. I fail to see how any of that is untrue.
First sentence of paragraph one: ‘Thiel is one of the main promoters of the archaic ideology that dominates the thinking of men such as… Cook and Gates.’
First sentence of paragraph two: ‘So what do Thiel and the other techlords stand for? Their ideological base revolves around something called the "Dark Enlightenment", also known as the "Neo-Reactionary Movement."‘
That’s a direct claim. I agree with you that the so-called tech overlords are dangerous. But the danger of excessive wealth and power (e.g. Gates and Cook) is a very different danger that that of the Yarvinists.
One set wants to work within the system (corruptly, one could argue) to exercise power, while the other wants to burn the world down and replace it with dystopia that they run. These groups are not allies. We cannot hope to resist effectively when we operate with false assumptions.
None of them are allies, they're all focused on themselves. I also think it's naive to think that Cook and Gates haven't been affected by the pervasive Silicon Valley ideologies, including neo-reactionism. I agree the article could have phrased things better, but I still don't see it as a claim...
...that all techlords are the same. You're nitpicking wording, but the main point of the article is the threat these men pose to Democracy and the future of humanity, which is completely valid. Also, just because Gates and Cook haven't publicly stated their support for the movement doesn't mean...
...they're opposed to it on principle. Actions speak louder than words and their actions indicate a disregard for maintaining Democracy and protecting the environment, which puts them in line with at least certain aspects of the Neo-reactionary movement.
Welp, I think that’s the closest we’re going to get. :-)
Been there, my code speaks more than my coworkers.
