Would You Let an AI Run Your Country? | Halloween Special 🎃

Published on November 7, 2025 · Duration 00:47:09

Happy Halloween, ghoul-friends and gadget-lovers! This week on Bootstrapped for Cash, your hosts Sealambda, Giorgio Azzinnaro, and Iván Peña, along with a brave panel of friends, dared to confront a question more chilling than any ghost story: Would you accept an AI as the leader of your country? Forget pumpkin spice lattes; this episode serves up some seriously mind-bending AI discussions that will have you questioning everything!

AI is already creeping into our lives, from personalized diet plans (thanks, Antonio!) to making big business decisions. But what if it held the reins of power? We’re talking about countries like Sweden, where the Prime Minister has openly admitted to using ChatGPT for decision-making, and even Albania, which reportedly has an AI minister! Is this the future, or are we summoning a digital overlord?

The Good, The Bad, and The Bots

Our panel, a mix of corporate wizards and tech enthusiasts, dove headfirst into the algorithmic abyss.

The Case for Our AI Overlords (or, at least, their helpful nature): Antonio kicked things off by highlighting AI’s disruptive power and its potential to make life “much, much easier”. Imagine perfectly balanced meal plans delivered to your inbox without a single repeat! If AI can optimize our grocery lists, surely it can optimize a nation, right?

The Glitches in the System (and why we might need our pitchforks ready): Not so fast! Jose raised a critical point: AI often “validates what you’re expecting as an answer”. This echo chamber effect could lead to a severe lack of critical thinking, which is a big red flag for any leader – human or otherwise. Miguel echoed this, expressing concern that the sheer “convenience of AI” could lead us to “not even question things”. Brainwashing by bots? Now that’s a scary thought for Gen Z, who are already facing an AI-driven job market.

Juan brought it back to basics, stating that “AI needs to be something that… is there to help us” and that we should always “put human first”. He, along with many experts, believes we might be “going too fast with AI”, perhaps risking a “bubble” or worse, unforeseen consequences.

Oppenheimer, Terminator, and the Race to AGI

The conversation took a cinematic turn as the panel grappled with the existential risks. Iván and others drew parallels to the chilling uncertainty faced during the development of nuclear power, much like in the Oppenheimer movie. “We don’t know if it’s going to actually destroy the whole world,” one panelist pondered about AI. And, of course, no discussion about AI taking over would be complete without a nod to Terminator and the terrifying prospect of Skynet deciding that humanity is, well, redundant.

Edu, ever the realist, expressed pessimism about achieving a “global consensus” on AI regulation, citing the endless “competition” and national interests. He believes AI is “not ready for making decisions” when “moral decision[s] or a future decision where you need to think for the next 10-20 years” are involved. This isn’t just about self-driving cars; it’s about the very fabric of society.

The debate also touched on the mind-boggling future, from quantum computing’s role in achieving AGI to whether AI can truly “learn” like humans do, with continuous training and NVIDIA’s “Omniverse” simulations being discussed as potential pathways.

So, Is It a “Yes” or a “No”?

As the episode wrapped up, Iván challenged each panelist to give a simple “yes” or “no” to the ultimate question. The answers were, naturally, as complex as AI itself:

• Jose: “Very positive. So, yes.” (Reinforced with a strong “yes” later!)
• Antonio: “I’ve got no idea to be honest… Hopefully, yes.” (A very human, nuanced answer!)
• Miguel: “Not in my lifetime, but yes… it has to be a yes.”
• Juan: “Yes… But it’s going to be fucking pain.” (No holding back there!)
• Edu: “Not Ilon, but someone that follows Ilon… I think his objective with Grok… which is a maximum truth seeking AI, I think that is the right way.” (A very Edu “yes,” indeed!)
• Iván: “I’m in a way, yes. I think it’s going to be positive, but yeah, there will come with pain.”

The consensus? AI is here to stay, it’s disruptive, and while the journey will be “painful” and fraught with challenges, humanity’s resilience and adaptability might just see us through. The short-term, however, could be a wild ride!

This Halloween Special isn’t just a discussion; it’s a peek into our possible future. Do you agree with the panel? Would you let an AI run your country? Drop your thoughts in the comments and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to Bootstrapped for Cash for more mind-bending AI talks! Trust us, you won’t want to miss what happens next!