Technology journalist Karen Hao said artificial intelligence is operating like an empire that devalues and displaces human workers [1, 2].
This perspective shifts the conversation from technical efficiency to the socio-economic cost of automation. As AI integrates into global industries, the risk of systemic economic inequality grows, potentially creating a permanent class of displaced laborers.
Hao said these arguments during an interview with NPR on June 9, 2026 [1]. In the discussion, she said that the rapid expansion of AI functions similarly to a colonial empire by undermining the inherent value of human labor [1, 3]. This process allows tech entities to extract value from human knowledge while simultaneously removing the humans from the economic equation [1, 3].
In her book "Empire of AI," Hao explores the structural power dynamics of the industry [1]. She said that the current trajectory of the technology focuses on growth and dominance rather than the well-being of the people it affects [3]. According to Hao, there is a critical lack of inquiry into whether this technology is actually helping people in a meaningful way [3].
This critique targets the leadership of major AI firms, including OpenAI, by framing their growth as an imperialist endeavor [2]. By treating human data and labor as raw materials to be harvested, the industry risks replicating historical patterns of exploitation [1, 2].
Hao said the displacement of workers is not an accidental byproduct of innovation but a feature of how these systems are designed to operate [1, 3]. The result is a landscape where economic power is concentrated among a few technology providers, while the global workforce faces increasing instability [1].
“AI is operating like an empire that devalues and displaces human workers.”
Hao's analysis frames the AI transition not as a neutral technological evolution, but as a power struggle. By linking AI to colonialism, she suggests that the industry is prioritizing the extraction of value over sustainable labor practices, which could lead to long-term global economic instability if regulatory frameworks do not prioritize worker protections over corporate growth.
