Rarely do we see a venture capitalist speak out against fellow VCs.
"We Can’t Let My Former V.C. Colleagues Buy Off Our Democracy."
Please read and share (gift link):
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
"John O’Farrell was hired as the first outside general partner at Andreessen Horowitz in 2010. He resigned in May 2025. He retains investments in Andreessen Horowitz funds, with significant positions in A.I., crypto and other technologies."
This is the debate we should be having rather than building arches and renaming performing arts centers...or ill prepared wars of choice against Iran and how to counter its economic effects. But with a self-indulgent narcissist in the Oval Office, this debate won't happen.
Former a16z GP John O'Farrell criticizes the AI industry and his ex-partners for spending hundreds of millions to fight regulation, calling it "a huge mistake" (John O'Farrell/New York Times)
Main Link | Techmeme Permalink
"The playbook we’re seeing comes from the crypto industry, which successfully neutered efforts to regulate it by spending tens of millions of dollars to help defeat pro-regulation candidates and elect industry-friendly politicians in 2024."
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
It's up to the American people to get collectively crafty & to prevent apex predator tech bros from eating our & our children's future www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
Which will come first?
Will AI destroy our society or will the people determined to make enormous profits from AI beat it to the punch?
Are they the crypto people in new shirts?
[NYT Opinion]: We Can’t Let My Former Venture Capital Colleagues Buy Off Our Democracy, June 11, 2026, By John O’Farrell. Mr. O’Farrell is a former general partner at Andreessen Horowitz.
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
#AI
By John O’Farrell
"Mr. O’Farrell is a former general partner at Andreessen Horowitz."
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
This OpEd by @jofarrell.bsky.social speaks to a lot of the concerns and disappointment many of us in the tech industry have as we see the most powerful companies chase the most frivolous applications for AI.
>> This is a question of what’s best for America and the world. We have an extraordinary opportunity to model good citizenship and principled leadership by actively promoting A.I. policies that work for everyone. Let’s not waste it. <<
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
O’Farrell accused his former firm and allies of using the Leading the Future super PAC’s $125 million war chest to suppress AI regulation.
The essay compares the AI lobby’s strategy to crypto PAC Fairshake’s playbook, noting both are backed by Andreessen Horowitz and spent heavily in 2024
Vua tbe Nerd Reich: We Can’t Let My Former V.C. Colleagues Buy Off Our Democracy. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/opinion/silicon-valley-ai-politics.html?unlocked_article_code=1.pVA.rnaA.KI6-csj1tM0v&smid=url-share&ref=thenerdreich.com #FuckAI
We Can’t Let My Former V.C. Colleagues Buy Off Our Democracy www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
Find out who funds the candidates on your ballot and do NOT vote for those taking money from the AI industry. They won’t vote in your best interests, but in those of their paymasters.
Venture Capitalists Working to Buy Off Democracy
* Not seeking meaningful dialog about the use of AI in democratic political systems
* Forming PACs to defeat politicians favoring regulating AI
* Supporting "hands-off AI" politicians
NB: Crony Capitalism
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
Venture Capitalists Working to Buy Off Democracy
* Not for meaningful dialog about the use of AI in democratic political systems
* Forming PACs to defeat politicians pro regulate AI
* Supporting "hands-off AI" politicians
NB: Crony Capitalism
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
.
“Some of the most powerful players in A.I.—led by some of my friends & former partners, to my great sadness—have raised 100s of Ms of dollars to forestall a more serious & meaningful debate about how A.I. should be governed. They have helped create PACs to help defeat candidates 1/5
"They’re also deeply concerned about A.I. — a backlash is building, and it will become fiercer when voters learn that a handful of billionaires are altogether spending nine figures, apparently in an effort to try to stop debates about regulation from further developing."
A must-read in thinking about The potential of AI and its impact on the future of learning, work, community, enterprise, and democracy…
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
"The A.I. industry could sponsor nationwide university boot camps to educate politicians..." Lawmakers could attend these bootcamps instead of having to fundraise if we publicly financed elections.
Gift Article:
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
"The rise of the A.I. industry demands a national conversation about how to share its potential benefits widely while addressing people’s legitimate fears...1/2
“Some of the most powerful players in A.I. […] have raised hundreds of millions of dollars to forestall a more serious and meaningful debate about how A.I. should be governed. […] I believe this is a huge mistake.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
Some of the most powerful players in AI have raised hundreds of millions of dollars to forestall a more serious and meaningful debate about how AI should be governed.They have helped create PACs to help defeat candidates who want regulations on AI and to promote those who will stay out of their way.
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