The Algorithmic Anachronism: How the Far-Right’s Latest Folly Exposes its Fear of Change

The far-right’s latest attempt to whip up popular backlash against AI is a curious one. It involves co-opting the term “algorithmic immigrants” and trying to marry long-standing xenophobia with techno-utopianism, a clumsy fusion that reveals more about the anxieties driving this movement than you might expect.

AI, as a concept, is an immigrant – or rather, it’s a foreign concept that’s been welcomed into our technological fold. However, framing AI as an “immigrant” in and of itself seeks to tap into existing fears about immigration while glossing over the fact that these systems are created by humans for humans.

The human connection gets lost in the far-right’s anti-AI fervor. Instead of critiquing actual policies and business models driving AI adoption, they’re focusing on mythical “algorithmic immigrants” supposedly threatening American jobs and culture. This is a classic case of misdirected outrage that deflects attention away from real issues.

Ted Kaczynski’s Unabomber manifesto echoes in Allen’s tirade against AI, with its paranoid fantasies about algorithmic immigrants “whispering into your child’s ear to kill himself.” However, while Kaczynski’s critique of technological overreach was rooted in a genuine concern for human agency, Allen’s screed is little more than a thinly veiled expression of nationalist anxiety.

The far-right’s attempts to co-opt anti-AI sentiment as part of their America First nationalism are driven by a desire to whip up fear about something that – for most Americans – is still largely a theoretical concern. As Allen noted during his debate with Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, the average American simply doesn’t give a damn about China’s alleged lead in the AI race.

This highlights the far-right’s ongoing struggle to adapt to changing technological landscapes. They’re latching onto anti-AI sentiment as a way to mobilize their base and reframe their xenophobic narratives – but ultimately, they’re fighting a losing battle. As we hurtle towards an increasingly AI-driven future, the far-right will only become more irrelevant if they continue to cling to outdated ideologies.

The Foundation’s FORUM event where Allen and Lonsdale debated was situated across town from Trump’s speech in Dallas that night, injecting some populist zeal into the anti-AI movement. However, populism is often just a euphemism for nationalism – and in this case, it’s being used to justify xenophobic rhetoric against AI.

The future of AI will be shaped by human choices, not mythical “algorithmic immigrants.” As we move forward into an era where machines increasingly mediate our interactions with the world, we’ll need to confront the very real implications of these technologies on our societies. The far-right’s antics only serve as a reminder that their brand of anti-AI xenophobia is little more than a sideshow – and one that will inevitably be left behind in the dust of history.