A Sydney-based tech pioneer, Manik Surtani, has a crucial message for us all: "The real AI threat isn't robots, it's social media-like control." And he's not alone in this concern. Surtani, Block's Head of Open Source, has been working behind the scenes to address this very issue.
In a bold move, Surtani has brokered an unprecedented collaboration between OpenAI and Anthropic, the world's top AI labs, to create an open foundation for agentic AI. This initiative, the Agentic AI Foundation (AAIF), aims to prevent a potential AI monopoly and ensure the technology remains accessible and beneficial to all.
But here's where it gets controversial: Surtani's efforts have brought together some of the biggest names in tech, including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, who are now platinum-tier members of AAIF. With Chinese tech giant Alibaba also joining, the foundation is gaining momentum.
And this is the part most people miss: Surtani's work started as a skunkworks experiment within Block, showcasing the potential for innovative ideas to thrive within established companies.
The AAIF's mission is clear: to keep agentic AI open and prevent it from becoming a tool of abuse and control. With its growing coalition, the foundation is taking a stand against potential AI monopolies.
So, what do you think? Is this a step towards a more equitable future with AI, or does it raise concerns about the power dynamics in the tech industry? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
