For all those who are concerned Big Tech, and the billionaires who own it, have a huge influence on California’s economic future. Tom Steyer It seems like a no-brainer. Steyer is a billionaire. After founding Farallon Capital Management in 2007, one of world’s largest hedge funds, Steyer amassed a fortune. In 2012, Steyer left the firm and began philanthropy as well as political advocacy and climate activism. He’s now jostling with a few other Democratic and GOP candidates to win the California Governorship in November.
Before the midterm elections, I spoke to candidates who were relevant to WIRED: I spoke with Alex Bores. a candidate in New York’s 12th Congressional District. Palantir employee and stance on AI regulation has attracted the ire of Silicon Valley–backed super PACs.
Steyer seemed like a natural choice to start a discussion: He is running for governor of a state that prioritizes issues such as AI, immigration, climate change and other WIRED topics. Steyer is unique in his approach to the race. Steyer has been called a “class traitor” for ostensibly eschewing his fellow elites, voiced support for California’s controversial Billionaire Tax Act—which has everyone from Sergey Brin to Peter Thiel either making moves to or threatening to flee the state—and campaigned hard on affordability, climate policy, and the promise that he’s immune to corporate influence. It’s something I would hope for a man who has spent over $130 million to run his own governorship campaign.
Tom Steyer, as I mentioned, seems to tick a number of boxes for many Democratic voters. He starts to talk.
Steyer has a knack for following rules, just as most politicians do. In politics in general and California, the line is the real problem. Steyer, or anyone elected governor of California this November, would be treading on thin ice. Californian billionaires should be taxed, but without alienating the wealthy. Get a handle on California’s AI without slowing it down (or alienating billionaires who are building it).
Steyer seemed reluctant to be too firm or too direct on certain issues. Perhaps he was trying to avoid alienating potential voters. This made me question: Is it possible for Tom Steyer to be both a billionaire proponent and a governor who taxed them the heck out? How can he rave? “mind-blowingly amazing” Can AI advances be made while the entire industry is brought to heel? Is it possible for him to learn my name (the global editor of WIRED) before I interview him?
Answers to the third question are given in the interview. The former two will be formidable challenges for anyone elected to California’s governorship—and I didn’t leave our conversation convinced that Steyer’s posture is a particularly coherent one. Google might be a minimum requirement to become a California Governor.
This interview has undergone editing to ensure clarity and length.
KATIE DRUMMOND : Tom, welcome to the show! Big Interview.
Tom Steyer Kate [sic]Thank you for inviting me.
So, you’re a billionaire. Your money was made in the world of hedge funds. You’ve been a climate advocate for the past decade or so. What was the transformation?
As I grew up, whenever I had free time from either school or my job, I would try to get jobs in the outdoors. I was a fruit picker and a ranch hand. In the summer before I started business school, I lived in Alaska.
Denali, for example, was on my list of things to do. I wanted to look at the vast North America that was untracked, and rich in fertile land.
