GAFAM is over! It is now the era of the CAYMANS. Artificial intelligence has revolutionized the technological and financial landscape. We must clearly name what is at stake.
The meaning of the words
Words have a meaning, sometimes double or even triple, acronyms, not necessarily. And that’s where the problem lies. Hardly and lastingly. There is material here for a double generation of opposing effects. On the one hand, it deadens or distracts our understanding. And on the other hand, it also reassures us by making us believe that we understand the phenomena and that we can control them.
GAFAM, the past
In France, we knew the famous GAFAM: Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft. This acronym has the profound, structural and dangerous disadvantage of not evoking anything. It doesn’t resemble any word in French. And we don’t seem to see any Greek or Latin roots there. There are only the two syllables that are found in other words. There is therefore, if not a total absence of meaning, a structural weakness. The acronym tells us nothing about the real power of the companies it is supposed to represent or group together. However, it is an unchallenged domination, an almost absolute control in the Western world of what circulates digitally. GAFAM tells us nothing about the real world and the strategies of these companies. It does not alert us and does not put us in a situation of reaction and construction of another world.
The new ecosystem
But the tornado of artificial intelligence swept away this entire ancient structure. For the worse. Hyperfinancing and speculation of AI activities have shaped a new valley. Or rather a new swamp. Because everything evolves, the champions of yesterday are no longer those of today and those of today will not necessarily be those of the future.
To reflect these profound changes and these frantic searches for total predominance and greed for liquidity; even if it means drying up the financing market for other start-ups; we need to use another acronym. In this new territory, in this backwater, alliances do not seem appropriate. It’s every man for himself. Every company is ready to buy out or devour its competitor. and all those which could worry him in the future.
Appearance of the Caymans
In animal symbolism, the corresponding species is that of crocodiles. We wrongly attribute to the latter the infamy of devouring their own offspring. This is just a cliché, false. On the other hand, adult crocodiles do eat crocodile children from other families. An acronym that reflects this mentality is therefore perfectly suited to alert us to the endless search for digital hyperpower which is preparing to devour everything that is not itself.
So now it’s Cayman time!
Here they are in order of spelling of the acronym.
– C = ChatGPT
– A = Alphabet
– I = Intel
– M = Meta
– A = Anthropic
– N = NVidia
– S = SpaceX
It should be noted that, depending on individual preferences, Amazon and Microsoft can also be part of the large Cayman family. Another advantage of the acronym is that it also works perfectly in English. The English-speaking world can thus be made aware, through a common reference, of the behavior and dangers of these companies. There will be strength in unity.
Vigilance and Alert
By the use of the word Caymans, we are therefore warned. Our vigilance must be transformed into a warning signal and the alert into the construction of French and European responses to this current supremacy of the Caymans. Other voices and paths will appear.
Because, in all cases, the urgency is to take care that these Caymans do not also become “Maniacs”!
