I'll Be in London For a Week

2026-01-25 · Source: Privacat Insights · Field: Government & Public Sector — Public Policy & Governance, Regulatory & Compliance, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning · Depth: Intermediate, short

Summary

Carey Lening, previously known as "Cat" from Privacat, announced her attendance at Effective Altruism Global and Foresight Institute's Vision Weekend UK in London from May 29 to June 8, aiming to network and promote her "tech extensity" narrative. She also revealed her real name, noting that AI models already link her to the pseudonym. Lening is refining her core argument on "tech extensity," which posits that current AI governance tools like fines and audits are insufficient because tech firms are becoming so deeply embedded in societal systems that they are impossible to remove or constrain. This phenomenon, distinct from traditional monopolies, creates new "substrates" like foundation models and erodes historical friction points, potentially disempowering billions. Lening proposes treating tech extensity as a unit of analysis to identify effective structural remedies, such as enforcing separation and limiting power concentration, suggesting the EU is well-positioned to implement such approaches.

Key takeaway

For policymakers evaluating AI governance frameworks, recognize that traditional fines and audits are insufficient against "tech extensity." Your focus must shift from procedural mitigations to structural remedies. Actively reduce interdependence and limit power concentration. Implement measures like enforcing structural separation or bolstering institutional power, similar to the Digital Markets Act. This counters the disempowering effects of deeply embedded tech firms before the opportunity closes.

Key insights

Tech extensity, where firms are indispensable societal substrates, makes conventional AI governance futile, demanding structural interventions.

Principles

• Current AI policy tools are ineffective against tech extensity.
• Tech extensity creates new substrates, eroding power constraints.
• Structural remedies reduce interdependence and power concentration.

Method

Treat "tech extensity" as a unit of analysis to predict intervention efficacy. Quantify an entity's "too big to regulate" score to precisely target structural remedies, such as enforcing separation and limiting power concentration, over procedural mitigations.

In practice

• Quantify "too big to regulate" scores for entities.
• Enforce structural separation to reduce interdependence.
• Bolster institutional power to limit concentration.

Topics

• Tech Extensity
• AI Governance
• Power Concentration
• Regulatory Policy
• Structural Remedies
• Digital Markets Act

Best for: Policy Maker, AI Ethicist, Consultant

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Privacat Insights.