The rise of digital authoritarianism: Larry Ellison wants everyone’s data and DNA plugged into AI datacenters to guide our behaviors

Oracle’s billionaire founder envisions a future where every aspect of human life is monitored, analyzed, and controlled by artificial intelligence—down to our DNA. Critics warn this is less about improving lives and more about consolidating power in the hands of a tech elite.Key Points:

• Larry Ellison, Oracle’s founder and CTO, proposes unifying all American data—including DNA—into AI datacenters to “improve lives” through predictive analytics and surveillance.

• Ellison’s vision includes constant monitoring of citizens, from schools to bathrooms, with AI ensuring “best behavior” through omnipresent surveillance.

• These authoritarian plans will lead to a dangerous consolidation of power, with AI acting as an “immortal dictator” that could erode privacy, freedom, and democracy.

• The U.S. government and global leaders are already investing billions in AI infrastructure, raising concerns about unchecked surveillance and the rise of a “digital authoritarianism.”

The vision of a surveillance state

At the 2024 World Government Summit in Dubai, Larry Ellison, the fourth richest man in the world and founder of Oracle, laid out a chilling vision for the future of artificial intelligence. Speaking alongside former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, Ellison described a world where AI would unify every piece of data about individuals—from their genetic makeup to their daily habits—into massive datacenters. These AI systems, he argued, would “reason so much faster” than humans, diagnosing diseases, predicting crop yields, and even designing personalized vaccines.

But beneath the glossy promises of improved healthcare and agricultural efficiency lies a darker reality: Ellison’s vision is one of total surveillance. “Citizens will be on their best behavior because we’re constantly recording and reporting,” he said, describing a future where AI monitors everything from school bathrooms to police body cameras.