Buterin Advocates for Responsible Tech Growth
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has registered the dacc.eth domain name, sparking curiosity about his future plans. This comes months after he published a blog post about defensive accelerationism. Buterin's move highlights his call for a more balanced technological advancement approach, especially concerning artificial intelligence (AI).
The term d/acc stands for Defensive (or Decentralized or Differential) Acceleration. Introduced in November 2023, it counters the popular effective accelerationism (e/acc) trend. In his post titled "My techno-optimism," Buterin responded to a16z co-founder Marc Andreessen's techno-optimist manifesto and emphasized the potential risks of technologies like AI.
AI, according to Buterin, poses threats like human extinction if a super-intelligent AI turns hostile. He also warns of digital authoritarianism, where a small elite could wield disproportionate control using AI technologies.
Buterin advocates for d/acc as a defense against AI dominance and harmful technological missteps. This strategy champions a cautious, democratic approach to development, avoiding centralization as an automatic solution. Although regulatory processes, especially in health sectors, have been slow, Buterin criticizes the excessive enthusiasm of e/acc proponents, particularly in military applications.
With d/acc, Buterin envisions technology growth rooted in defense, preserving democracy and freedom, rather than enabling dominance. He calls on stakeholders, including policymakers, developers, and the public, to collaborate towards tech advancements that maximize benefits while minimizing risks.
“The ‘d’ here can stand for many things; particularly, defense, decentralization, democracy, and differential,” Buterin explained.
His proposal urges conscious and profitable building that ensures technology supports human well-being and societal progress. “A d/acc message says ‘you should build, and build profitable things, but be much more selective and intentional in making sure you are building things that help you and humanity thrive,'” Buterin emphasized.
