TechnologyAugust 27, 2026

accelerationists

ak-sel-uh-RAY-shun-ists

Definition

People who advocate for the rapid and unconstrained development of artificial intelligence, often believing that technological progress should be pushed forward as quickly as possible.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'accelerare', meaning 'to hasten,' combined with the suffix '-ist' to denote a person who holds a specific belief or ideology. The term became popularized in the 21st century to describe political and technological movements favoring radical speed and change.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe individuals who support the swift advancement of AI, contrasting them with pessimists while noting that even they acknowledge the potential risks involved.

Humans in the age of AI

Read the full article ↗

Palo Alto Online

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