Swarms Trade Money for Capability

Large numbers of relatively cheap AI instances (agent swarms) act as a distinct scaling axis: capability can be increased by adding agents rather than lengthening reasoning chains, but this multiplies token use and monetary cost. Early evidence suggests swarms show the same diminishing returns with longer chains-of-thought while introducing new coordination modes and security risks. — If capability can be bought by wealthy actors through costly swarms, power will concentrate and new governance, safety and criminal‑use considerations become central to AI policy.