AI: Government on US/China TikTok ban, a bipartisan 'Never Mind'. RTZ #603

AI: Government on US/China TikTok ban, a bipartisan 'Never Mind'. RTZ #603

‘Never Mind’, as SNL character Emily Litella, performed 26 tines by the iconic Gilda Radner, would say to Chevy Chase on SNL Weekend Update. A TikTok rhyming skit decades before its time.

After building a crescendo of global consternation and controversy over an ill-considered US TikTok ban, the government seems to be blinking before the Sunday, January 19th deadline. Even before the Supreme Court has ruled on the ban. The date I cast as ‘Judgment Day’ in a post a few days ago. Part of the reason seems to be a bit of a mocking backlash by TikTok’s 150+ million US users and creators. That’s about half of America, give or take.

NBC reports “Biden administration looks for ways to keep TikTok available in the U.S.”:

“Barring action by the Supreme Court, a ban on the popular app in the U.S. is set to begin Sunday.”

“President Joe Biden’s administration is considering ways to keep TikTok available in the United States if a ban that’s scheduled to go into effect Sunday proceeds, according to three people familiar with the discussions.”

“Americans shouldn’t expect to see TikTok suddenly banned on Sunday,” an administration official said, adding that officials are “exploring options” for how to implement the law so TikTok does not go dark Sunday.”

Officials from both the outgoing and incoming White House adminsitrations are now explaining why a ‘ban’ may not be a ‘ban after all:

“Deputy White House Chief of Staff Bruce Reed has been a Biden point person on the issue and has received many calls from people urging the president not to let a ban go into effect, according to two people familiar with the matter.”

“If the administration moves forward with any such plan, it would mean the popular app’s going down would not define his last full day in office, and it would defer the issue to Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated Monday.”

“Mike Waltz, Trump’s incoming national security adviser, told Fox News on Wednesday that Trump is ready to intervene to preserve access to the Chinese-owned video app in the American marketplace. And Pam Bondi, his pick for attorney general, refused to commit to enforcing the ban when she was asked about it at her Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday.”

The piece pithily notes:

“Biden’s and Trump’s positions are reversals from their onetime support for banning TikTok.”

Speaking of TikTok, I outlined three outcomes ON TikTok on the probability of different outcomes. The least likely from my perspective, is a deal for US Investors, like the bandied about a China sponsored Elon Musk deal, or Mr. Beast, and other billionaire and/or corporate investors to scoop in and buy the US stake in TikTok.

It’s all reminiscent of one of my favorite early SNL (Saturday Night Live) skits by the venerable Gilda Radner (1946-1989), playing one of her iconic characters, Emily Litella. And the character’s signature line, “Never Mind”. Here’s an SNL skit to jog your memory.

As we enter the tech driven ‘RealTekPolitik’ phase of this AI Tech Wave, it’s likely we see more ‘Never Mind’ versions of the SNL skit play out. Potentially over the outgoing Biden Administration’s ill-considered ‘AI Diffusion’ Rules I wrote about a few days ago. And of course many other AI Tech initiatives to come.

With a good part of eight billion people being exposed to an AI accelerated deluge of content on the internet, politicians increasingly need to consider a newly accelerating reality. That mainstream users may see through their underlying political drivers of actions, that may be at cross-purposes with what mainstream users want.

It’s likely a ‘Never Mind’ history lesson that echoes and rhymes going forward. Whatever happens with TikTok this Sunday and beyond. Stay tuned.

(NOTE: The discussions here are for information purposes only, and not meant as investment advice at any time. Thanks for joining us here)





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