In late May, Neil Rimer, co-founder of one of Europe’s top venture firms, Index Ventures, suggested that wealth from artificial intelligence will eventually be redistributed. Voluntarily or not, it's coming, he believes.

While most billionaires have been scaling back on philanthropy, Rimer’s comments stand out. His recent $13 million gift to McGill University and his role in founding an Indigenous research institute underscore a different approach.

The trend of voluntary giving has waned globally, with American charitable donations down by 4.5% last year alone. This shift is mirrored in tech firms like Anthropic, whose employees are focusing on investing rather than philanthropy. The absence of voluntary action could lead to involuntary measures, such as wealth taxes.

In California, voters will decide this year whether to impose a one-time 5% wealth tax targeting billionaires, while OpenAI considers going public for similar reasons. However, many oppose these measures, arguing that they undermine economic freedom and innovation.