Ask HN: Control Information, Control the World?

#1

Post by seestem » Thu, Apr 10, 2025, 8:34 AM UTC

- printing press

- radio

- television

- internet

- AI?

Re: Ask HN: Control Information, Control the World?

#2

Post by dave4420 » Thu, Apr 10, 2025, 10:54 AM UTC

There are many chokepoints. The media/information is one of them. Food, water and energy are others. I expect there are more.

Re: Ask HN: Control Information, Control the World?

#3

Post by seestem » Thu, Apr 10, 2025, 12:18 PM UTC

dave4420 wrote: post #2

There are many chokepoints. The media/information is one of them. Food, water and energy are others. I expect there are more.

Yes I agree, those are crucial. But if I have the right information I can produce food cheaper, faster than others that don't have the same info, I can locate water if I am informed where it is. With the right info I can generate energy cheaper and more efficiently than others who don't have access to the same info.

Re: Ask HN: Control Information, Control the World?

#4

Post by dave4420 » Thu, Apr 10, 2025, 2:57 PM UTC

seestem wrote: post #3

dave4420 wrote: post #2

There are many chokepoints. The media/information is one of them. Food, water and energy are others. I expect there are more.

Yes I agree, those are crucial. But if I have the right information I can produce food cheaper, faster than others that don't have the same info, I can locate water if I am informed where it is. With the right info I can generate energy cheaper and more efficiently than others who don't have access to the same info.

If you are dependent on imports for half your food supply and I am able to choke off your imports… then it doesn’t matter that you have the knowledge of how to mass produce synthetic meat for cheap, a chunky proportion of your population will starve to death before you’re able to construct the new food factories.

Re: Ask HN: Control Information, Control the World?

#5

Post by seestem » Thu, Apr 10, 2025, 6:39 PM UTC

dave4420 wrote: post #4

seestem wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes I agree, those are crucial. But if I have the right information I can produce food cheaper, faster than others that don't have the same info, I can locate water if I am informed where it is. With the right info I can generate energy cheaper and more efficiently than others who don't have access to the same info.

If you are dependent on imports for half your food supply and I am able to choke off your imports… then it doesn’t matter that you have the knowledge of how to mass produce synthetic meat for cheap, a chunky proportion of your population will starve to death before you’re able to construct the new food factories.

> If you are dependent on imports for half your food supply and I am able to choke off your imports…

Yes, that is a tough position to be, very hard to defend against that... goes something like don't bite the hand that feeds you.