Summary

Donald Trump’s second term is poised to feature significant influence from a network of right-wing tech figures, including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and David Sacks, many linked to the “PayPal Mafia.”

These allies bring a focus on deregulation, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and military technology, with numerous appointments in key federal roles.

Critics highlight their ties to venture capital, skepticism of institutions, and profit motives, while proponents see them as champions of innovation.

Questions remain about their impact, given part-time roles and the limits of Trump’s ability to implement radical tech policies.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    29
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    15 days ago

    Can you imagine how often these guys have to simplify what they’re talking about to get through to him? Musk is a moron too, but Thiel? Sacks? Not at all. And even Musk can at least, in general, understand the terminology when they talk about it.

    Imagine trying to explain crypto or LLMs to Trump…

    • Yodan@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      36
      ·
      15 days ago

      Are you kidding me, they are probably so happy to have a guy who knows zero about what they are saying. They can lie via omission and get permission for projects without fully detailing anything to the guy who doesn’t want details. He rubber stamps their hateful shit because in return he collects a fee from them for the grift. That’s trumps grift. He used to grift honest businesses but he’s moved into grifting other grifters who grift the public via policy now.

      • conicalscientist@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        14 days ago

        I’m pretty sure it’s mutual. Republicans are happy they finally entered the 21st century. They don’t have to know anything. Now the magical modern machines are working for them.

        I’m 99% certain Musk told Trump that he will use twitter algos to nudge targeted segments of the population to find those “11000 votes” he needs. Probably Zuck and Thiel did the same with Meta platforms and reddit respectively. Hence the final weeks of the campaign the republicans seems to stop caring at all. Just blow job a microphone it doesn’t matter. The tech bros had fixed the election already.

    • Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      19
      ·
      15 days ago

      Eh, it’s not like Thiel or Sacks are great minds of our time either. I’d be willing to bet the way those guys talk about the tech they’re obsessed with would make anyone with actual knowledge of it cringe.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        15 days ago

        And yet they would still have to severely dumb it down for Trump. Constantly. In fact, they would probably have to explain it to him all over again the next day.

        • imPastaSyndrome@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          10
          ·
          15 days ago

          You’re implying they care if he understands and that he’d ever admit that he doesn’t and both are frankly ridiculous