Tech–industrial complex

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The expression "tech–industrial complex" describes the relationship between a country's tech industry and its influence on the concentration of wealth, censorship or manipulation of algorithms to push an agenda, spread of misinformation and disinformation via social media and artificial intelligence, and public policy. The expression is used to describe Big Tech, Silicon Valley, and the largest IT companies in the world. The term is related to the military–industrial complex, and has been used to describe the United States Armed Forces and its adoption of AI-enabled weapons systems.^[1][2][3] The expression was popularized after a warning of the relationship's detrimental effects, in the farewell address of U.S. President Joe Biden on January 15, 2025.^[4][5]

U.S. President Joe Biden used the term in his Farewell Address to the Nation on January 15, 2025:^[4][5][6]

Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead...

We see the consequences all across America. And we've seen it before, more than a century ago. But the American people stood up to the robber barons back then and busted the trusts.

It’s also clear that American leadership in technology is unparalleled — an unparalleled source of innovation that can transform lives. We see the same dangers of the concentration of technology, power, and wealth.

You know, his farewell address, President Eisenhower spoke of the dangers of the military-industrial complex. He warned us then about, and I quote, "the potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power," end of quote.

Six decades later, I'm equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex that could pose real dangers for our country as well.

Americans are being buried under an avalanche of misinformation and disinformation enabling the abuse of power. The free press is crumbling. Editors are disappearing. Social media is giving up on fact-checking. The truth is smothered by lies told for power and for profit.

We must hold the social platforms accountable to protect our children, our families, and our very democracy from the abuse of power.

Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is the most consequential technology of our time — perhaps of all time. Nothing offers more profound possibilities and risks for our economy and our security, our society, for humanity. [emphasis added]

The term was first used in U.S. President Joe Biden's farewell address, and alluded to Dwight D. Eisenhower's warning of the military–industrial complex and what Politico described as "echoing Roosevelt's language in calling out the "robber barons" of a new dystopian Gilded Age". Since Elon Musk purchased X, there's been wide spread allegations that the social media company has been manipulating its algorithm to promote right-wing content as well as supress left-wing content. A Biden aide demurred when asked if Biden was referring to Elon Musk, but said that the billionaire "was certainly an example of one".^[7] The comments came amidst large financial donations by tech leaders to Donald Trump's second presidential inauguration and for taking actions seen as deferential to the president-elect. It also came amidst surging stock prices of "The Magnificent Seven", seven tech companies whose combined value rose 46% in 2024, vastly beating the S&P 500 share index.^[8] Other tech leaders described as part of the tech–industrial complex included Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, Shou Zi Chew, Tim Cook, and Vivek Ramaswamy.^[8][7]