Opinion | What A.I. Philanthropists Can Learn From the Gilded Age

Opinion | What A.I. Philanthropists Can Learn From the Gilded Age

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/23/opinion/artificial-intelligence-philanthropy-beauty.html

Publish Date: 2026-05-23 07:00:00

Source Domain: www.nytimes.com

• The expected immense wealth from artificial intelligence (AI) companies upon their public listings could potentially add $100 billion annually to American charitable giving, signaling a possible “third wave” of philanthropy focused on the A.I. transition and existential questions about meaning in the age of advanced machines.

• This influx of wealth may lead to a significant transformation in American philanthropy, reminiscent of the Carnegie and Rockefeller eras, but with a pronounced focus on cultural and aesthetic pursuits, akin to the Gilded Age’s legacy of monumental architecture and arts.

• The author critiques modern tech philanthropy for lacking a focus on aesthetic and cultural legacy compared to the Gilded Age, which built grand institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Carnegie Hall, partly attributing this to a culture of performative philistinism in Silicon Valley where the wealthy eschew visible displays of their wealth.

• She urges AI philanthropists to create a physical legacy, suggesting they should build not just useful projects but also invest in buildings, monuments, and cultural landmarks that reflect beauty and cultivate taste, thereby enriching the lives of future generations beyond mere financial contributions.

• The appeal extends a personal challenge, encouraging these philanthropists to explore historical examples like the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, and to use their resources to construct enduring, beautiful, and meaningful structures.