Historian Warns AI Could Threaten Democracy

Pulitzer prize-winning US historian Jill Lepore has published a new book, The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State, examining the threat that artificial intelligence poses to liberal democracy. The book traces the emergence of what Lepore describes as a democracy-crushing dystopia, arguing that elements of this troubling future are, in some respects, already present.

Central to Lepore's argument is the extraordinary concentration of power in the hands of private tech companies. She contends that these firms, frequently led by men whose personal priorities may not align with the broader public interest, wield influence disproportionate to any democratic mandate. This imbalance, she suggests, allows a small group of individuals to shape technologies that affect billions of lives, often without meaningful public oversight or accountability.

As a historian, Lepore situates the current moment within a longer narrative of technological and political change, drawing connections between past upheavals and the present AI boom. This historical framing is intended to help readers understand not only how society arrived at this juncture but also what might be done to resist the drift toward authoritarian outcomes enabled by unchecked technological power.

The review characterises the book as delivering an ominous warning, one that suggests the erosion of democratic norms is not a distant hypothetical but an unfolding process. Lepore's analysis implies that without significant intervention, whether through regulation, public pressure or institutional reform, the balance of power between citizens and technology firms could shift decisively away from democratic accountability.

While the summary of the review does not detail every argument or piece of evidence Lepore presents, its central thrust is clear: the rise of AI, combined with the concentration of corporate power, represents a serious challenge to the survival of liberal democratic institutions. The book positions itself as both a historical account and a call to attention, urging readers to recognise the stakes involved before the described dystopia becomes fully realised.