Akamaister
Akamaister
andrewgstanton@primal.net
Feb 20, 2026

๐Ÿ”’ Building Continuum - Chapter 22 โ€” AI and the Centralization Wave

Artificial intelligence amplifies existing infrastructure concentration. Training large-scale models requires capital, data aggregation, and specialized hardware โ€” conditions that naturally consolidate power. When AI inference is delivered exclusively via cloud APIs, access to cognition becomes mediated by identity and billing systems. This chapter explores how AI intensifies dependency dynamics, why the issue is structural rather than conspiratorial, and why identity portability becomes more critical as inference centralizes.

Building Continuum - Chapter 22 โ€” AI and the Centralization Wave

Artificial intelligence amplifies existing infrastructure concentration. Training large-scale models requires capital, data aggregation, and specialized hardware โ€” conditions that naturally consolidate power. When AI inference is delivered exclusively via cloud APIs, access to cognition becomes mediated by identity and billing systems. This chapter explores how AI intensifies dependency dynamics, why the issue is structural rather than conspiratorial, and why identity portability becomes more critical as inference centralizes.


๐Ÿ”’ This is a paid article. To unlock the full content, open this page using the private link you received (it includes a ?code=... parameter).

ENCv1: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