Toward AI Capitalism: An Analysis of Capitalist Forms and Future Prospects

Toward AI Capitalism: An Analysis of Capitalist Forms and Future Prospects | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Toward AI Capitalism: An Analysis of Capitalist Forms and Future Prospects Yuan Xu, Yiping Liu This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7079030/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study develops an analytical framework for capitalist forms based on industrial structure. By transforming the abstract concept of “capitalist forms” into industrial characteristics with clear boundaries and quantifiable indicators, the research enhances its operational applicability. A quantitative analysis model is constructed, incorporating four key dimensions: dominant industry, business model, technological innovation, and per capita efficiency. Using the top 100 companies by market capitalization in the S&P 500 Index from 2007 to 2024 as the sample, the model provides an objective basis for the identification and analysis of capitalist forms. Through empirical analysis, the study identifies 14 existing capitalist forms and demonstrates significant differences among them. Based on data trends derived from the model, the study further forecasts and analyzes the evolutionary trajectory and core characteristics of AI capitalism. The findings not only enrich the theoretical understanding of capitalist forms but also provide a foundational framework for understanding and responding to the rise of AI capitalism. Furthermore, the research lays the groundwork for future exploration into income distribution mechanisms and global cooperation frameworks under the context of AI capitalism. Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental social sciences Physical sciences/Mathematics and computing AI Capitalism Capitalist Forms Industrial Structure Dominant Industry Industry Classification Quantitative Analysis Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7079030","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":501924478,"identity":"93bff94b-f778-4b7c-b55e-3c93256aec04","order_by":0,"name":"Yuan Xu","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA5ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYPACGx42ZuYDQIaEDLFa0uT42NkSQFp4iNVy2FiOn8cAxCKsxeBGjuHnwjbmxDZmns+vbtRY8DCwHz66AZ8WyRk5xtIz29iAWni3WeccAzqMJy3tBj4t/BI5BtK8bTxgLcY5bEAtEjxmeLWwSeQY/+ZtkwA57Jlxzj8itABtMQPaYmDMxszD/Di3jQgtkj3Pyqx5ziXIsTGzmTHn9knwsBHyi8Hx5M23ecr+88j3H378OedbnRw/++FjeLUwCCQg+QtM4lUO9swBOJP5A0HVo2AUjIJRMCIBANLPPD5enP40AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Shanghai Yuxuan Culture Technology Co., Ltd","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yuan","middleName":"","lastName":"Xu","suffix":""},{"id":501924479,"identity":"dd5f9936-9555-49ed-93b2-c7fd67b345db","order_by":1,"name":"Yiping Liu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Brock University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yiping","middleName":"","lastName":"Liu","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-07-09 02:38:24","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7079030/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7079030/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":89464101,"identity":"17bea259-d816-4b80-bf9e-641e32298872","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-20 08:17:03","extension":"jpg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":2476065,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMarket Capitalization Ratio Trends of Current Dominant Industries\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig.1.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7079030/v1/2d82ec6f21b61b1f62b42d9d.jpg"},{"id":89464092,"identity":"a9e4905f-c4c5-4a33-8428-d3f06fc14079","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-20 08:17:03","extension":"jpg","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":3562415,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eTime Series Data of Current Dominant Industries\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Fig.2.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7079030/v1/4e0ae9f2fbb967f3b884c504.jpg"},{"id":89464100,"identity":"e9cd9824-4d61-47ba-af5c-56908b1f8caf","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-20 08:17:03","extension":"jpg","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":784635,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMarket Capitalization Ratio Trends of Financial Services, Consumer Discretionary Distribution \u0026amp; 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