Harvard historian and New Yorker writer Jill Lepore has warned that Silicon Valley may be moving toward a system where technology companies increasingly perform the functions of democratic governments. In her upcoming book, The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State, Lepore calls this trend the “artificial state.”
- 1. What Is the Artificial State?
- 2. Technology Is Not the Problem
- 3. Silicon Valley and Science Fiction
- 4. The Apple “1984” Ad
- 5. Twitter and Democracy
- 6. Technology Does Not Always Mean Progress
- 7. Science Fiction’s Warning
- 8. Data Centers and Democracy
- 9. The Artificial State Could Fail
- 10. Her Solution: Democratic Control
- 11. Her Criticism of “Disruptive Innovation”
- 12. Historians and Technologists Should Work Together
1. What Is the Artificial State?
Lepore describes the artificial state as a system where corporations, algorithms, and machines take over functions traditionally handled by governments. She argues that this could weaken democratic decision-making because people did not directly consent to private companies taking on these roles.
2. Technology Is Not the Problem
Lepore says she is not against technology. Her concern is the growing political power of private corporations. She believes technology can improve people’s lives, but decisions affecting society should remain accountable to citizens.
3. Silicon Valley and Science Fiction
Lepore argues that some technology leaders misunderstand science fiction. Stories about powerful machines were often warnings about technology and human dependence. She believes some Silicon Valley leaders instead treat these stories as blueprints for the future.
4. The Apple “1984” Ad
Lepore points to Apple’s famous 1984 Macintosh advertisement. The commercial presented the personal computer as a tool that could challenge centralized power. She argues that this optimistic technology narrative later became much more complicated as large technology companies gained enormous influence.
5. Twitter and Democracy
Lepore rejects the idea that Twitter became a modern digital town hall. She argues that Twitter users were not representative of the wider population. A relatively small group of highly active political users produced much of the political discussion, potentially creating a distorted picture of public opinion.
6. Technology Does Not Always Mean Progress
Lepore questions the belief that technological change automatically means progress. She argues that real progress should also involve freedom, equality, and moral improvement.
7. Science Fiction’s Warning
She highlights stories such as E.M. Forster’s The Machine Stops, where humans become dependent on machines. For Lepore, these stories show the dangers of allowing technology to control essential parts of human life.
8. Data Centers and Democracy
Lepore connects today’s data-center conflicts to democratic accountability. Communities increasingly question data centers’ energy use, water consumption, jobs, and environmental effects.
9. The Artificial State Could Fail
Lepore believes the artificial state is ultimately unstable because technology depends on the natural world. A system that continuously consumes natural resources cannot operate indefinitely on a habitable planet.
10. Her Solution: Democratic Control
Lepore does not offer a simple plan to dismantle technology companies. Instead, she argues that major technological decisions should be made through democratic consultation with the people affected by them.
11. Her Criticism of “Disruptive Innovation”
Lepore also stands by her earlier criticism of Clayton Christensen’s disruptive innovation theory. She argues that technological change is more complicated than a simple business theory suggests.
12. Historians and Technologists Should Work Together
Finally, Lepore believes historians and technology leaders should communicate more. History can help technologists understand how previous inventions changed laws, society, and everyday life—and how new technologies may need similar safeguards.
