Many leftists oppose AI, but I moderate the r/LeftistsForAI subreddit. And my co-mod writes great analytical pieces citing leftist economists like Marx on how they were much more nuanced about automation.

A viral discussion is emerging from the r/LeftistsForAI subreddit, where moderators are pushing back against blanket leftist opposition to artificial intelligence by grounding their argument in classical economic theory. The moderators, including an analyst who writes extensive pieces, cite Karl Marx's own writings in *Capital*, where he criticized the Luddite movement for targeting machinery instead of the social relations of production. Their core thesis is that technology, including AI, is a neutral tool whose impact is determined by who controls it. The problem, they argue, is not 'raw technology' but capital's ability to instrumentalize and subsume technological developments to serve private profit, a process they term 'subsumption'.

The subreddit serves as a hub for this ideological reframing, sharing news on positive AI applications and strategizing on how to ensure its benefits and profits flow to society broadly rather than business elites. A key proposal is for pro-lower class movements to actively 'weaponize' AI themselves as a countermeasure to its weaponization by the upper class. This represents a strategic shift from defensive opposition to proactive appropriation, aiming to reclaim the narrative and potential of AI for collective good. The community welcomes those who fear elite abuse of AI but still believe in its potential, fostering detailed discussion on how to attack private capitalist power structures rather than the technological tools themselves.