Bregman, Rutger. “Quit ChatGPT: right now! Your subscription is bankrolling authoritarianism.” The Guardian, 4 Mar. 2026, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/04/quit-chatgpt-subscription-boycott-silicon-valley. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Author and historian Rutger Bregman uses this article to put forth his views on a developing consumer boycott movement aimed at OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Bregman describes how the boycott calls for cancellation of subscriptions to ChatGPT. The motivation behind the boycott is political in nature as it’s been revealed that OpenAI’s president donated $25 million to a Trump-aligned Super PAC and that it’s initiated a separate PAC (to the tune of $125 million) to lobby against state regulation of artificial intelligence. There is some discussion of how OpenAI is currently being favored by the Trump administration over other leading AI companies, particularly in the context of recent disputes over AI use in military operations. Bregman expresses optimism about the potential effectiveness of the “QuitGPT” campaign to send a message about the dangers of OpenAI’s influence.
My interest in this story stems from thinking further about the politicization of AI and how it intersects with existing power structures. As AI’s prevalence in our lives increases, it’s important to consider how decisions are made about the technology, who holds the power to make those decisions, and what motivates those decision-makers. For those hoping to push back against these power structures, the success or failure of protest movements becomes relevant.
Leave a Reply