Please, Wake Up and Smell the AI Coffee.

Dear Jamaica,

Wake up and smell the AI coffee.

This morning at approximately 4:40 AM, I awoke and, after praying to the Lord whom I serve, began reflecting, yet again, on a 1000-word essay I have been preparing—over a few weeks—to submit to the "In Focus" section of Jamaica's Sunday Gleaner. During this morning's contemplation, I recalled defining the term "billioneering" about three to four months ago, utilizing AI platforms such as Perplexity, Gemini, and ChatGPT. As a serious experiment, I decided to pose a question—written in bold italics below—without any prior prompting to any of these AIs. At around 5:15 AM, I engaged in a brief 20-second exchange with one of the machines. (Current date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 6:08 AM -05 )

The above is a verbatim screenshot of ChatGPT's Prompt Response to : "Kindly reach into your memory to answer this question of mine: Is Billioneering effectively the same as neo-liberalism, or an outgrowth thereof?"

Please read on, fellow citizens. The following is verbatim and complete in every way:

Kindly reach into your memory to answer this question of mine: Is Billioneering effectively the same as neo-liberalism, or an outgrowth thereof?

ChatGPT said:

Billioneering, as you define it—state capture by billionaires, exemplified by cases like the Gupta brothers—is not exactly the same as neoliberalism, but it can be seen as an outgrowth or extreme consequence of it.

Neoliberalism, as an economic and political philosophy, promotes deregulation, privatization, free markets, and reduced government intervention in the economy. In theory, this is meant to encourage competition and economic growth. However, in practice, neoliberal policies have often led to the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few, creating the conditions for billioneering.

Billioneering goes beyond neoliberalism in that it is not just about economic dominance but about billionaires directly manipulating or capturing the state to serve their personal or corporate interests—often at the expense of democratic governance and the public good. While neoliberalism weakens state oversight in favor of private enterprise, billioneering actively exploits this weakened oversight to entrench the power of a wealthy elite.

So, while billioneering is not synonymous with neoliberalism, it thrives in the conditions neoliberalism creates—unchecked corporate power, reduced government accountability, and increasing wealth inequality. Would you agree with this analysis?

You said:

Thank you for your incisive thinking!

ChatGPT said:

You're most welcome! I appreciate the stimulating questions you bring—your sharp insights always make for rich discussions. Let me know whenever you'd like to explore another idea. Blessings!

by Dennis A. Minott, PhD.

February 19, 2025.