The Big Nine: How Tech Titans Are Quietly Rewriting Humanity’s Future

Why the fate of humanity may rest in the hands of nine powerful companies—and what you should know now.

Imagine a world where nearly every decision, from your morning commute to your medical diagnosis, is influenced by invisible algorithms crafted by a handful of corporate giants. This is not science fiction—it’s the world Amy Webb describes in her eye-opening book, The Big Nine. Webb argues that six American firms—Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, IBM, and Apple (G-MAFIA)—and three Chinese titans—Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent (BAT)—now wield unprecedented power over the development and deployment of artificial intelligence. Their choices, often shaped by market incentives in the West and state mandates in the East, are quietly embedding their values into the very infrastructure of tomorrow’s society.



Webb traces the philosophical origins of AI, showing how ancient dreams of thinking machines evolved into today’s neural networks and deep learning. She highlights the Dartmouth Workshop of 1956, where AI was formally born, and the cycles of hope and disappointment that followed. The book warns of the dangers posed by homogenous development teams—often male, elite, and lacking in diversity—who unintentionally bake their biases into AI systems. These biases can manifest as 'a thousand paper cuts,' small but cumulative harms like facial recognition errors, discriminatory loan approvals, and filter bubbles that narrow our worldview.

Yet, Webb’s analysis is not merely a critique. She offers three vivid future scenarios: an optimistic world where international cooperation and ethical frameworks guide AI; a pragmatic, uneven future of incremental reform; and a catastrophic dystopia marked by surveillance, unemployment, and authoritarian control. Her central message is clear: the future of AI is not predetermined. Governments, companies, and individuals can—and must—act now to shape a future where technology serves all of humanity, not just the interests of the powerful few.



Webb’s book is essential reading for anyone who cares about the future, offering both a sobering diagnosis and a roadmap for change. The fate of humanity, she argues, may well rest in the hands of the Big Nine—but it is still within our power to steer the ship. Will we rise to the challenge?