The Doomsday Moat: Why AI’s Billionaires Want Washington to Stop the Clock

AI billionaires are reportedly seeking government regulation, not for safety, but to create a "doomsday moat" that stifles competition. By advocating for compliance costs, mandatory licensing, and audits, these incumbents aim to price out startups. Companies like OpenAI and Anthropic operate proprietary AI models, locking their code and weights in private data centers. Users must pay a toll for every token processed, ensuring the companies' valuations remain tied to this controlled access, much like historical regulatory capture seen with railroad barons and early airlines.

This report uniquely frames AI regulation as a "doomsday moat" for incumbents, unlike typical narratives focusing on safety or ethical concerns.