Tech & Society Program: “The Rise of Silicon Empires” with Nick Srnicek
Aspen Institute España, in collaboration with Fundación Telefónica, will host the third session of the Tech & Society Program. The session will have Nick Snick, Senior Lecturer in Digital Economy at King’s College London, as speaker and will debate the geopolitical and corporate struggle to build the next global empire. The session, titled “The Rise of Silicon Empires” will take place on Tuesday, October 20th, at the Edificio Telefónica.
The Rise of Silicon Empires
Beyond the hype of AI capabilities lies a fierce geopolitical and corporate struggle to build the next global empire. This talk unpacks the new logics of corporate expansion across the AI stack, conceptualizing AI as a general-purpose technology. Historically, the firms behind such technologies have faced immense challenges not only in driving adoption but, more critically, in capturing its value. In different ways, the big AI firms of today are all charting paths to overcome these problems – leading to a series of distinct expansionary strategies. Ultimately, this talk aims to provide a new framework for understanding the strategic landscape of this critical 21st-century technology and the powerful forces shaping our digital future.
Nick Srnicek
Nick Srnicek is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Economy at King’s College London (KCL). His research focuses on the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and anti-work politics. His books include Silicon Empires (Polity, 2025), After Work: A History of the Home and the Fight for Free Time (Verso, 2023 with Helen Hester), Platform Capitalism (Polity, 2016), and Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a World Without Work (Verso, 2015 with Alex Williams). Nick co-founded and directed the Digital Economy MSc programme at KCL, is on the Board of Advisors for the Autonomy Institute, and has been awarded an honorary professorship from the University of Buenos Aires.
Edition X of the Tech & Society Program
The Tech & Society Program has become the leading forum in Spain for reflecting on the major issues raised by advances in digital technology. The 10th edition will bring together leaders from all sectors of civil society to discuss new technological challenges and their influence on diverse areas such as human relations, politics, education, culture, economics, and medicine.
