For the concerned AI crowd headed to the Paris AI Summit, I may not be there in person, but the urgency of our moment compels me to send this message by carrier pigeon, Substack, and LinkedIn, with a few links shared on BlueSky.
In light of the recent earnings reports from the major tech titans and the emergence of DeepSeek’s alternative approach to large language model development, I beseech you to work on a “Third Way.” This is not a call for more binary debates between grandiose “moonshot” ambitions and “policy-centric” discussions. Instead, it is an invitation to embrace a multifaceted strategy that celebrates diverse organizational forms, prioritizes open protocols over monolithic platforms, and reimagines capital as a dynamic, multi-dimensional resource.
Up with Organizational Plurality
Beyond Monolithic Models:
Whether steered by centralized governmental mandates or driven by the hyper-scaled, market-oriented approaches of today’s tech conglomerates, the prevailing systems often stifle local insight, collaborative creativity, and values-based innovation. The Third Way calls for an ecosystem that honors shared principles and organizational structures. We might consider:
- Public Benefit Startups: Agile and purpose-driven, these entities combine entrepreneurial spirit with social mission.
- Perpetual Trusts: Institutions built for long-term impact rather than short-term profit, ensuring continuity and ethical stewardship.
- Democratic Cooperatives: Models where every participant has a voice, ensuring accountability and equity.
- Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs): Resilient, distributed networks democratizing decision-making through smart contracts.
- Hybrid For-Profits Emerging from Nonprofits: Structures that merge mission-driven goals with sustainable revenue models.
Each of these forms brings its own strengths, from the nimbleness of startups and the community accountability of cooperatives to the resilience of decentralized networks and the resource advantages of traditional institutions. Experimenting across these organizational types can help us discover the optimal mix for an AI ecosystem that is both innovative and equitable. But organizational types alone cannot guarantee good actions and follow-through on intentions and must be paired with capital sources that support experimentation, redesign, and adaptation.
Rethinking Capital: A Multifaceted Approach to Value
Beyond Traditional Funding Models:
Historically, capital has been viewed as a pump-and-dump scheme to seek out only unicorn dreams. The Third Way envisions a radical redefinition of capital, where value is recognized not only in dollars but also in intellectual ingenuity, creative expression, and communal engagement. We must consider:
- Grants and Donations: Direct funding for projects with societal benefits.
- Patient Capital and Debt: Long-term financial instruments that support sustainable growth.
- Innovative Financial Instruments: Social impact bonds, tokenized assets, and participatory economic models that reward a broad spectrum of contributions.
Integrating Multiple Forms of Value:
Imagine a funding ecosystem that marries traditional investment with groundbreaking instruments, one where capital flows acknowledge the intellectual, creative, and social inputs that propel innovation. We can create business models that contribute by aligning financial returns with long-term societal benefits.
Contribution Models and Business Model Innovation
Designing Contribution Models:
At the heart of the Third Way lies a commitment to recognizing and rewarding every contribution—from developers and content creators to community members who share, curate, and innovate.
Reimagining Business Models for AI:
The Third Way is not just a theoretical construct, it is a call to action for innovative business models that:
- Merge Open Protocols with Participatory Structures: Build platforms where interoperability and open standards empower a decentralized, collaborative approach to AI development.
- Incorporate Hybrid Funding Mechanisms: Combine traditional venture capital with social impact investments, patient capital, and community-backed financing.
- Emphasize Sustainable Growth: Prioritize long-term societal benefits over short-term gains, ensuring that every innovation contributes to a resilient AI ecosystem.
Innovating with Purpose: Beyond Moonshots and Policy Fixes
The Danger of Extremes:
It’s easy to be seduced by grandiose “moonshot” projects or to become entangled in policy debates that, while necessary, may remain disconnected from the practicalities of technological innovation. This isn’t about choosing between audacious dreams and pragmatic regulation; it’s about learning through making new systems together.
As you engage with peers, thought leaders, and innovators at the summit, I encourage you to challenge conventional wisdom. Envision a future where:
- Organizational Diversity is tolerated and celebrated, offering multiple pathways to innovation and impact.
- Novel Capital Structures recognize and reward the full spectrum of contributions—monetary, intellectual, creative, and communal—thus realigning success metrics with the proper drivers of progress.
The Third Way is not merely an alternative; it is a call to reimagine how we structure our societies, economies, and technological ecosystems. It is a call to build an AI future that isn’t monopolized by a few dominant players but is enriched by participatory structures where every contributor matters.
Let’s invite bold experimentation, fork new protocols, and co-create an ecosystem reflecting our shared values.
The carrier pigeon version of this missive will be more succinct.
Onward to a Third Way in AI.