Dr. Jill Lepore on why the AI backlash is vital for the future
Summary
Nilay Patel interviews historian Jill Lepore about her book, *The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State*, which argues that quantification and big tech have eroded democratic institutions. Lepore contends that private corporations now control public discourse, replacing human civic engagement with algorithmic targeting and bots. The discussion traces this shift from 1980s computer utopianism to today’s AI-driven politics, highlighting how efficiency has supplanted humanistic values in governance.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and intro
Introduction of Dr. Jill Lepore and her book
Defining the 'Artificial State' and privatized public square
Tech leaders' rejection of history and humanistic reasoning
Sponsors: Framer and IBM Quantum
Uber Advertising and physical world engagement
The myth of digital democracy and the 1984 Apple ad
Gatekeepers, consolidation, and the shift to consumerism
Micro-targeting, identity politics, and advertising algorithms
The rise of bots and the future of online labor
AI in education and local democratic engagement
Tech executives and the illusion of democratic input
Outro and closing sponsors
Listen ad-free on Castria