Accelerationism Dictionary: A Complete Terminology and Lexicon

AI accelerationism, or “e/acc,” is one of the most radical and controversial ideologies emerging from Silicon Valley today. At its core, it champions the rapid and unrestricted development of artificial intelligence, rejecting calls for regulation and safety measures in favor of unchecked innovation. Proponents argue that AI holds the key to solving humanity’s greatest challenges—climate change, poverty, disease—and even envision a post-human future where intelligence transcends biological limits.

With strong libertarian leanings, the movement prioritizes market-driven progress, believing that government intervention would stifle AI’s transformative potential. Tech billionaires like legendary venture capitalist Marc Andreessen have embraced these ideas, elevating what was once a fringe philosophy into a driving force in the AI industry.

However, AI accelerationism faces fierce criticism for its disregard of ethical considerations, social consequences, and potential existential risks. Detractors warn that unregulated AI development could exacerbate inequality, destabilize economies, and lead to dangerous technological outcomes without proper safeguards.

The movement stands in stark opposition to cautious, ethical AI development advocated by groups like the effective altruism community, setting up a high-stakes ideological battle over the future of artificial intelligence. Whether one sees AI accelerationism as a path to utopia or a reckless gamble, its growing influence makes it a defining force in the ongoing debate over technology’s role in shaping humanity’s future.

This accelerationism dictionary should help get anyone up to speed on this emerging and dangerous ideology. We’ll keep adding to it over time as the field continues to evolve at breakneck pace.

Accelerationism Dictionary

A

Accelerate or die: A common slogan in the e/acc movement expressing the belief that technological acceleration is necessary for survival.

Accelerationism: A philosophical and political movement advocating for the acceleration of technological, social, and economic progress. Can exist in left-wing, right-wing, and politically neutral forms.

AGI (Artificial General Intelligence): An artificial intelligence system capable of performing any intellectual task that a human can do.

AI supremacy: The belief or fear that artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence and capabilities, potentially dominating society, economies, and geopolitical power structures. It is often discussed in the context of global competition for technological dominance.

Automation: The use of technology to perform tasks with minimal human intervention, a key focus of accelerationist thought.

Autonomous systems: Autonomous systems refer to machines or software that can perform tasks without human intervention. They use AI, machine learning, and sensors to make decisions in real time, such as self-driving cars, drones, or intelligent robotics.

B

Biotech acceleration: The rapid advancement of biotechnology and genetic engineering capabilities.

C

Climb the Kardashev gradient: A reference to advancing civilization’s technological capabilities along the Kardashev scale.

Consciousness expansion: The belief that technological progress will lead to new forms of consciousness or awareness.

D

Dataism: A worldview that treats data and the flow of information as the most critical and objective measure of truth, shaping decisions in science, governance, and society. It reflects the growing belief that data-driven decisions are inherently superior.

Decels: Derogatory term for “decelerationists” – those who advocate for slowing down technological progress.

Determinism: The philosophical view that all events are determined by previously existing causes, often used in the context of technological progress.

Doomers: Pejorative term for those who predict negative outcomes from technological advancement.

Disintermediation: The removal of intermediaries in a supply chain or economic process. Through digital platforms, it allows direct interaction between producers and consumers, bypassing traditional middlemen like brokers or agents.

Disruption: A term popularized in tech circles that derives from economist Joseph Schumpeter’s concept of “creative destruction” (1942). Schumpeter described how capitalism progresses through a process where new technologies and business models destroy and replace existing ones. In modern Silicon Valley usage, it refers to how new technologies can rapidly overthrow established markets, industries, or ways of doing business. The term has become central to accelerationist thinking, which views this process of technological disruption as both inevitable and desirable.

E

E/acc: Shorthand for “Effective Accelerationism.”

Economic singularity: A hypothetical future event where technological advancements, particularly AI, cause unprecedented economic change, leading to widespread automation and the displacement of traditional economic models. It may involve concepts like universal basic income to manage disruptions.

Effective Accelerationism: A modern movement advocating for unrestricted technological progress, especially in AI.

Entropy maximization: A concept from physics adopted by some accelerationists to describe the inevitable increase in complexity and energy use in technological systems.

Exponential growth: The pattern of growth where a quantity increases at a rate proportional to its current value, often cited in technological progress predictions.

F

Fintech acceleration: The rapid development and adoption of financial technologies, including cryptocurrency.

Friction: Any regulatory, social, or technical barrier that slows technological progress.

Frontier technologies: Cutting-edge technologies that are currently at the forefront of innovation. These include AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, the blockchain behind cryptocurrency, and other advanced fields that have the potential to radically change industries and societies.

H

Hard takeoff: A scenario where artificial intelligence rapidly self-improves to superintelligent levels.

Hypercapitalism: An extreme form of capitalism characterized by the maximization of profits through technology, intense market competition, and the commodification of nearly every aspect of life, including personal data and social interactions.

Hypergrowth: A phase of rapid business growth, typically characterized by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 40%. Hypergrowth is often associated with tech startups scaling rapidly to capture market share before competitors.

Hyperindividualism: A social trend emphasizing individual autonomy, personal success, and self-identity above collective or community goals. It can lead to fragmented societies where personal achievement is prioritized over social responsibility.

I

Immortalism: The belief or pursuit of extending human life indefinitely, often through advanced medical technologies, genetic engineering, or mind-uploading. It is often associated with transhumanist and biohacking movements.

Intelligence explosion: A hypothetical scenario where an AI system enters a cycle of recursive self-improvement.

K

Kardashev Scale: A method of measuring civilization’s technological advancement based on energy utilization capacity.

L

Libertarianism: A political philosophy emphasizing individual rights and minimal government intervention, often aligned with accelerationist thinking (see also: Night Watchman State).

M

Market acceleration: The speeding up of market processes through technological means.

N

Neo-feudalism: A socio-economic system where power and wealth are concentrated in the hands of a small elite, similar to the feudal system of medieval times. It critiques modern economic inequalities and the growing influence of tech oligarchs.

Neo-reaction: A political philosophy sometimes associated with certain forms of accelerationism. Peter Thiel buddy Curtis Yarvin is the standard-bearer of the neoreactionary movement.

Network states: A concept from Silicon Valley billionaire Balaji Srinivasan’s book “The Network State” (which has been absolutely shredded to bits) where digitally native communities or organizations can somehow create sovereign entities, using technology to coordinate and govern their members without geographic constraints. These could function as alternative or complementary to traditional nation-states — nevermind the impracticalities of this situation to their “host” nations.

Neural interfaces: Technologies that enable direct communication between the brain and external devices, such as computers or prosthetics. Neural interfaces are key to fields like brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and have applications in healthcare, gaming, and beyond.

P

Post-humanism: A philosophical and cultural movement that explores the idea of transcending the traditional boundaries of humanity through technology. It involves rethinking human identity in the age of AI, robotics, and genetic engineering.

Post-scarcity economy: An economic system where most goods can be produced in abundance with minimal human labor.

Post-Fordist: Referring to the economic system that follows traditional industrial (Fordist) production methods.

Private cities: Urban areas that are developed, governed, and managed by private entities rather than public authorities. They purport to represent an alternative to traditional municipal governance, with private companies providing infrastructure and services.

R

Recursive improvement: The ability of an AI system to enhance its own capabilities.

Regulation: Government oversight of technology development, typically opposed by e/acc advocates.

S

Self-sovereignty: The idea that individuals should have full control over their identity, data, and personal decisions without interference from external authorities, such as governments or corporations. It’s often associated with blockchain and decentralized systems.

Singularity: The hypothetical point at which artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence.

Startup culture: A working environment that emphasizes innovation, agility, risk-taking, and a casual approach to hierarchy. Startup culture thrives in fast-growing companies, especially in tech, where new ideas and flexibility are prioritized over established corporate norms.

Superintelligence: An intellect that greatly exceeds human cognitive capabilities.

T

Techno-capitalism: An economic system focused on technological advancement and innovation.

Techno-Libertarianism: A political philosophy combining libertarian principles with emphasis on technological progress.

Techno-Optimism: The belief that technological advancement will lead to positive outcomes for humanity.

Technological determinism: The idea that technology drives historical and social development.

Technological utopianism: The belief that technology will create an ideal society.

Transhumanism: A philosophical movement advocating for the enhancement of human capabilities through technology.

U

Unlimited growth: The concept that technological progress can continue indefinitely.

V

Venture acceleration: The rapid deployment of venture capital to accelerate technological development.

X

X-risk: Existential risk; potential threats to human existence, often discussed in accelerationist contexts.