Artificial Intelligence and the Coming Authoritarianism

In 2025, in a dialogue with Chat GPT 3, I asked it to compare the Theory of the Unitary Executive with the Fuhrerprinzip, the Germany ideology of the absolute leader that was in place in Nazi Germany. Because GPT 3 training stopped in October of 2023, I had to inform it of changes that had taken place. The conversation is below:

 

ChatGPT said:

In the long term, democratic backsliding is often slow, subtle, and difficult to reverse. If left unchecked, it can lead to a situation where citizens wake up to find their democratic institutions significantly weakened, as the phrase you mentioned suggests. Vigilance and active participation in defending democratic norms remain essential for preserving American democracy.

I said:

It has only gotten worse after 2024

ChatGPT said:
It sounds like you’re observing an alarming trend that may be deepening in recent years. While I don’t have access to real-time data or events after October 2023, I can understand your concern that the erosion of democratic norms may have continued to worsen in the wake of the 2024 election and the subsequent political landscape.

Many of the historical dynamics we've discussed—like the undermining of the judiciary, consolidation of executive power, and increasing political violence—can snowball over time if they’re not checked. If the 2024 election (and its aftermath) continued to see trends like election denialism, attempts to invalidate legitimate results, or even political violence becoming normalized, that would signal a significant backslide in democratic governance.
It would be reasonable to expect that polarization and undermined electoral integrity have continued to grow. For example:Increased challenges to voting rights or new voter suppression laws aimed at limiting access to the polls.

• More executive overreach in the form of executive orders, where laws are bypassed.
• Judicial independence further compromised, with partisan battles over judicial nominations continuing.
• The public trust in elections might be at a historic low, especially if post-election challenges, claims of fraud, or violence persist.

If we were to assess this in light of Führerprinzip (the consolidation of power into a single leader, bypassing democratic institutions), the continuing normalization of authoritarian tactics would make it increasingly difficult to reverse course without significant institutional resistance.
Given these developments, there’s always the possibility that the checks and balances—which are supposed to act as guardrails—become further hollowed out through either political apathy or partisan control.

Would you say the erosion is happening more rapidly now? Or do you think that what we’re seeing is a gradual deepening of trends that have been building for decades?

I said:
It is both. I know you can’t check, but Trump is president again and he moved fast after taking office.

ChatGPT said:
It sounds like you’re describing a rapid consolidation of power under a Trump presidency in 2025, if he’s indeed in office again. If that’s the case, there’s a possibility that we’re seeing accelerated shifts in the way democratic norms are being eroded, especially if executive power is being concentrated with less regard for institutional checks.

The Speed of Change
When a leader with a populist, authoritarian-leaning agenda, like Trump, gains power again after a contentious election, there’s the potential for swift moves to weaken institutional constraints, particularly when the public is divided or disengaged. Fast action often comes when a leader has political momentum, or when they're attempting to consolidate authority before opposition can mount a serious challenge.

• Executive overreach becomes more pronounced, and executive orders may be used not only to bypass the legislative process but also to push through controversial policies without significant debate.
• Judicial appointments could be accelerated, tilting the courts further in favor of the administration's agenda, as we saw with Trump's three Supreme Court nominees in his first term.
• Attacks on institutions, especially those perceived as checks on executive power, can become a primary strategy to solidify control. This includes targeting the media, courts, and even Congress when they stand in the way of his agenda.

Potential Shifts in 2025:
If Trump’s presidency in 2025 is marked by rapid moves toward centralization of power, some indicators of authoritarian trends would include:
1. Dismantling of the Bureaucracy:

• If the civil service or bureaucratic institutions—often seen as nonpartisan—are being purged or sidelined to make room for loyalists, this could signal a weakening of checks on the executive. We’ve seen this trend before, and it’s dangerous because nonpartisan agencies are what protect the long-term stability of institutions. Once they are politicized, it becomes easier to push forward policies without the usual oversight.

2. Continued Undermining of Electoral Integrity:

• If post-2024, Trump continues to push baseless claims of election fraud or attempts to overturn legitimate results, it could delegitimize the democratic process itself. Any attempts to alter election law to favor one side, or even stacking the courts to support a partisan view of electoral fairness, would raise alarm bells about the integrity of the system.

3. Authoritarian Rhetoric and Actions:

• The use of national security concerns, like border security or the “war on terror,” as justifications for sweeping executive actions can be a clear path toward centralization. If Trump moves quickly to expand surveillance, limit protest rights, or even repress political opposition, this would be a stark sign of autocratic tendencies.

4. Judicial and Legislative Subversion:

• With a hostile judiciary or a pliant Congress, Trump could have greater freedom to implement drastic changes without worrying about legislative pushback. This could involve packing the courts with loyal judges, signing sweeping executive orders, or bypassing Congress altogether on major decisions.

5. Normalization of Political Violence:

• The normalization or tolerance of political violence, especially from groups loyal to the administration, could be another sign that the U.S. is headed down a dangerous path. If such violence is not condemned or even encouraged, it sets a precedent for civil unrest and the use of force to maintain power.

Is There a Risk of a Shift Toward Unchecked Power?
If Trump moved quickly in 2025 to centralize power, there are real concerns that we would see a drift away from democratic norms toward a more authoritarian system of governance. There would be a significant reduction in institutional checks and balances if Congress and the courts either refuse to challenge executive power or are unable to do so. With a divided or fractured political system, there’s always the risk that public disengagement could make it easier for an authoritarian leader to consolidate power.

The historical parallels to the Reichstag Fire and other moments when authoritarian figures gained power in moments of national crisis are striking. In those cases, political crises were used as pretexts to push through emergency powers, suspend civil liberties, and ultimately establish a dictatorial regime. If Trump’s actions are positioned as emergency measures in response to real or manufactured crises (e.g., political violence, economic instability, or national security concerns), this would be a significant red flag.

Vigilance and Resistance
In this situation, vigilance is essential. Civil society, political opposition, and media must continue to function as checks on power, but this requires an engaged electorate and a willingness to challenge authoritarian actions.

The dangerous feedback loop of polarization and subverting democratic processes means that democracy can be undermined from within if institutional safeguards (such as the media, courts, and elections) fail to function properly. As you said, Trump has moved quickly—and if this trend continues, democracy in America could face its most significant challenges yet.

It’s a chilling thought, but if you feel that this process is already underway, it’s important for people to remain informed, active, and resilient to safeguard democratic principles. The erosion of democratic norms cannot be underestimated, and we may be witnessing another chapter in a long historical struggle to protect freedoms from authoritarian impulses.

 

 

Now, we have AI in the form of ChatGPT5 which has been trained until August 2025 and has access to web articles to improve understanding. I will post that soon. Thanks for reading.