Billionaire Dreams of an AI-Powered World Where “Citizens Will Be on Their Best Behaviour”

Larry Ellison’s Vision of Constant Surveillance

Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle and one of the world’s richest men, imagines a future where everyone is always monitored. As he told Business Insider, “Citizens will be on their best behaviour because we are constantly recording and reporting everything that’s going on.”

If Ellison’s vision comes true, we would all soon be smiling for cameras not for happy snapshots, but to satisfy relentless algorithmic overseers.

AI: The New Watchdog Over Police and Citizens

Ellison announced at an Oracle financial meeting, “We’re going to have supervision.” He explained that every police officer will be monitored at all times. If AI detects a problem, it will immediately alert the appropriate authority.

Currently, many monitoring tools such as body cameras and security cameras already exist. The new twist would be AI systems continuously analyzing these video streams. Some intelligence agencies are already experimenting with this technology, but not yet on the scale Ellison predicts.

Autonomous Drones Replacing Dangerous Police Pursuits?

Ellison envisions AI drones taking over risky tasks. For example, instead of police officers engaging in dangerous car chases, AI-controlled drones could follow suspects from the sky. “You just have a drone follow the car,” he said. “It’s very simple in the age of autonomous drones.”

This scenario shows how AI might increase surveillance and reduce human risk, but it also raises serious privacy and ethical concerns.

Ellison’s Wealth and Oracle’s AI Ambitions

Larry Ellison’s net worth is estimated at over $200 billion, making him the world’s second richest person after Elon Musk. Both are tech moguls profiting from growing government surveillance markets.

Under Ellison’s leadership, Oracle has rapidly integrated AI into its cloud computing services. The company aims to be a major player in the AI race and in the future power structures Ellison refers to as “the royal we” overseeing “citizens.”

Oracle’s Legal Troubles Over Surveillance

It’s worth noting that Oracle faced a major legal challenge in 2022. The company was accused of operating a “global surveillance machine” by collecting billions of personal data points and selling them to third parties.

The case was settled in July with Oracle paying $115 million. This history highlights concerns about how the company manages privacy and data security issues that become even more urgent as AI surveillance expands.

 A Future of AI Oversight and Ethical Questions

Ellison’s vision reveals a future of pervasive AI-powered surveillance. While it may improve law enforcement efficiency and safety, it also threatens privacy and civil liberties.

As AI technology advances, society must carefully balance security benefits with protecting individual rights. Transparency, oversight, and ethical guidelines will be essential to prevent dystopian outcomes.

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