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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.

> 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.

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.

The power grid itself

Via pure monopoly power

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

It just burned a ridiculous amount of money stringing lines.

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

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

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