Every few decades humanity throws a collective tantrum about a new technology that is obviously going to end jobs, civilization, and probably the noble institution of avocado toast. First it was the spinning jenny, then the steam engines, then electricity, then automobiles, then computers, then the internet, and now—dramatic pause, thunder sound effect—Artificial Intelligence. The script never changes, credentialed smart people in expensive sweaters appear on cable news, furrow their brows, and solemnly declare that “this time is different.” Spoiler alert: it never is. Let us begin with the sacred historical record. In 1930 the brilliant economist John Maynard Keynes warned of “technological unemployment” so severe that by 2030 we’d all be working 15-hour weeks because machines would do everything. (We’re in 2025 and I still haven’t received my government-mandated three-day weekend, John. Rude.)
