AI Ownership

No page data found for "ai-ownership"

{
  "id": "ai-ownership",
  "type": "ai-transition-model-factor",
  "title": "AI Ownership",
  "description": "The distribution of control over AI systems across actors—countries, companies, and individuals. Concentration creates both coordination opportunities and power risks.",
  "tags": [
    "ai-transition-model",
    "factor",
    "ownership",
    "concentration"
  ],
  "relatedEntries": [
    {
      "id": "long-term-trajectory",
      "type": "ai-transition-model-scenario",
      "relationship": "drives"
    },
    {
      "id": "long-term-lockin",
      "type": "ai-transition-model-scenario",
      "relationship": "enables"
    },
    {
      "id": "ai-control-concentration",
      "type": "ai-transition-model-parameter",
      "relationship": "composed-of"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [],
  "lastUpdated": "2026-01",
  "customFields": [
    {
      "label": "Model Role",
      "value": "Root Factor (AI System)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Character",
      "value": "Distribution factor"
    },
    {
      "label": "Key Dimensions",
      "value": "Countries, Companies, Shareholders"
    }
  ]
}

No facts for this entity

No external links

{
  "numericId": "E661",
  "title": "AI Ownership",
  "description": "Root factor measuring AI control distribution across countries, companies, and individuals.",
  "sidebar": {
    "label": "Overview",
    "order": 0
  },
  "lastEdited": "2026-01-05",
  "subcategory": "factors-ai-ownership"
}

---
numericId: E661
title: AI Ownership
description: Root factor measuring AI control distribution across countries, companies, and individuals.
sidebar:
  label: Overview
  order: 0
lastEdited: "2026-01-05"
subcategory: factors-ai-ownership
---
import {DataInfoBox, FactorSubItemsList, PageCauseEffectGraph, EntityLink} from '@components/wiki';

<DataInfoBox entityId="E11" />

AI Ownership refers to who controls the most powerful AI systems and their outputs. Concentration among a few companies, countries, or individuals creates different risks than broad distribution. Ownership structure shapes incentives, accountability, and the distribution of AI benefits.

**For interactive exploration of how AI Ownership relates to other factors, see the [AI Transition Model Graph](/ai-transition-model/graph/).**

## Key Dimensions

<FactorSubItemsList factorId="ai-ownership" />

## Relationship to Scenarios

AI Ownership primarily affects **Long-term <EntityLink id="E189">Lock-in</EntityLink>** scenarios:

- Concentrated ownership shapes what values and power structures get entrenched
- Ownership patterns determine accountability and reversibility
- Distribution of AI benefits affects social stability

Also affects:
- **<EntityLink id="E670">AI Takeover</EntityLink>**: Concentrated ownership could help or hurt depending on the actor
- **<EntityLink id="E671">Human-Caused Catastrophe</EntityLink>**: Depends on who controls AI and their intentions

## Key Debates

| Debate | Question |
|--------|----------|
| Concentration effects | Is AI lab concentration good (easier to regulate) or bad (single points of failure)? |
| Profit vs safety | Can profit-motivated companies be trusted with AI safety? |
| Open source role | Does open source AI democratize capability or make dangerous systems accessible? |
| US-China dynamics | Is competition inevitable, or can cooperation emerge? |