About Pillar 3
The newsletter for leaders who see what others miss about AI's economic impact.
Why This Matters Now
We're the last generation making purely human decisions about AI. Once these systems are embedded in governance, finance, and daily life, every choice becomes human-AI collaborative by default.
The most critical decision we can still make independently? What economic system deploys AI. While mainstream voices focus on AI safety through corporate self-regulation or government oversight, they're missing the real problem: AI + profit incentives = inevitable harm to humans, regardless of technical solutions.
Pillar 3 offers the framework others lack—immediate community-driven transformation through nonprofit expansion—the only approach that can match AI development's exponential timeline.
Why Philip Deng
Philip brings a rare combination that positions him to see patterns invisible to others:
15 years of international nonprofit experience across four countries, mastering how mission-driven organizations coordinate complex human activity without profit motivation—exactly what communities need as AI eliminates traditional employment justifications.
4+ years of hands-on AI development since GPT-3's release in 2020, putting him among relatively few globally who understand both AI's trajectory and the organizational models needed to preserve human agency.
Co-founder & CEO of Grantable, the first generative AI grant writing platform serving 27,000+ users worldwide. Regular contributor to Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nonprofit Quarterly, and Stanford Social Innovation Review.
What You'll Get
Pillar 3 delivers:
Strategic intelligence on AI developments mainstream voices misinterpret
Nonprofit reframing that reveals the sophisticated organizational technology already operating around you
Cross-sector insights from thought leaders spanning technology, economics, nonprofit management, and community organizing
Behind-the-scenes AI workflows showing how to leverage these tools for social impact while maintaining human creativity and judgment
Early warning signals of economic displacement happening faster than policy can respond
The Three-Pillar Vision
Most people see a two-pillar economy: profit vs. public sectors in endless tension. We're building the missing third pillar—a robust purpose-driven sector where:
Profit sector becomes the wealth engine (AI + private enterprise optimized for maximum efficiency)
Public sector becomes the circulation system (government redistributes AI-generated wealth)
Purpose sector becomes the human economy (mission-driven organizations employing most people in meaningful work)
Communities can start building this third pillar today using existing nonprofit legal frameworks, creating economic facts on the ground faster than policy can evolve.
Who This Is For
Community leaders who want alternatives to both corporate AI dominance and ineffective government regulation.
Nonprofit professionals ready to see their sector as sophisticated organizational technology, not charity.
Policy makers and citizens who understand that waiting for external solutions means the choice window closes.
Tech-curious minds tired of AI discourse that swings between hype and doom—seeking realistic, actionable perspectives on how humans can thrive alongside powerful technology.
The Urgency
AI development happens in Silicon Valley time (months), policy in Washington time (years), but community transformation happens in real time (days and hours). Every month we delay, AI systems become more capable and entrenched interests more powerful.
Subscribe to join leaders who refuse to wait for someone else to solve this.
Currently writing "The Future Is Not For Profit: Restructuring Global Economics to Make AI Safe Through Mission-Driven Organizations"
Why Subscribe?
Stay ahead of the curve. Get weekly analysis that cuts through AI hype and policy theater to focus on what communities can actually do.
Join the movement. Connect with leaders already implementing nonprofit economic transformation in their communities.
Access unique insights. Benefit from Philip's rare combination of AI technical knowledge and deep nonprofit sector expertise.
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