Based on an article from the Ash Center, on May 8, 2024, the Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard's Ash Center hosted a conference to examine the political economy of AI. This event gathered scholars from various social sciences and humanities disciplines to discuss the impact of AI on political and economic structures, monopolistic practices, and the social influence of private corporations. Key topics included AI model development, historical technological innovation, current AI policy, and the political implications of economic dynamics driving AI.

Professor Yochai Benkler discussed how data extraction practices deepen power imbalances, while Professor Sharon Block highlighted the exploitative labor behind AI models. Noman Bashir focused on AI's environmental impact. The conference included panels on AI's industrial policy, state vs. federal perspectives on AI regulation, and historical models of technological innovation. The final panel explored pro-social technological development and alternative approaches to AI innovation, emphasizing the need for democratic control and public interest-oriented AI development.