Democracy v the machine: the birth of the digital age and the warnings that were ignored

Democracy and technology have long been at odds, with some fearing that the rise of artificial intelligence and machines would spell the end of liberal society. Despite this, many believed that technology could bring about an egalitarian utopia. However, warnings about the artificial state, in which machines replace democratic processes, were largely ignored.

In this modern era, where everything seems to focus on the future, people are constantly bombarded with the idea that robots will take over the world. It feels like we're racing towards something, unable to stop, look back, or think straight. But this moment in history does have a past, and it wasn't inevitable. Things could have turned out differently, and they still can.

One thing that stands out is that many people did see this future coming. They foresaw the potential for a computer utopia and were both excited and terrified by the possibilities. Above all, these individuals issued warning after warning about the rise of the artificial state, where democratic deliberation would be replaced by calculation, the public sphere by data-driven commerce, and the demos by drones.

So why didn't anyone listen? The new underworld is made up of innocent and well-intentioned individuals who work with sophisticated tools like slide rules, calculating machines, and computers capable of retaining and processing vast amounts of information. Most of these people are highly educated, many holding PhDs, and none that I have encountered have malicious intentions towards the American public.

While they may be unaware of the potential impact of their work on American politics, they are actively shaping the future in ways that could radically reconstruct the American political system, build a new politics, and even modify revered American institutions – all without realizing the potential consequences.