Harvard historian and New Yorker staff writer Dr. Jill Lepore believes that the mounting public resistance against artificial intelligence isn’t a problem to manage — it’s a clear sign that democracy is functioning as it should.
Lepore shared her insights during a conversation on The Verge’s Decoder podcast, coinciding with the release of her new book, The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State, set to hit shelves on August 25. She challenges the tech industry’s typical narrative that views skepticism about AI as either ignorance or a fear of progress.
The Book’s Core Argument
Lepore, a leading institutional historian, applies her sharp analytical lens to artificial intelligence and governance in her new book. Her main point is that AI isn’t merely a technology — it’s a force that governs, often developed and implemented outside the usual democratic processes that determine how power functions.
Imagine a new highway system being installed in your neighborhood without any public hearings. This infrastructure alters how people live, but decisions about its location and benefits are made in boardrooms, not city councils.
For Lepore, the true narrative around AI’s rise isn’t about the chatbots and image generators we interact with daily. It’s about how AI systems are increasingly embedded in hiring processes, credit evaluations, criminal sentencing, and government services — often without any visible public input.
Why Backlash Matters
On Decoder, Lepore explained to host Nilay Patel that the pushback against AI from workers, artists, regulators, and everyday citizens plays a crucial role. It’s buying time for democratic institutions to catch up.
Her historical research reveals a pattern: transformative technologies deployed too quickly, without oversight, often lead to serious harm before corrective measures are taken. In contrast, technologies that face initial resistance — where people demand rules and accountability — tend to integrate more safely into society.
This backlash isn’t against technology itself. It’s a call for accountability.
Lepore also discussed figures like Elon Musk, whose companies are at the crossroads of AI development and governmental influence. She views this not as a political issue but as a structural one. When private entities gain the power to implement AI on a government scale, the checks and balances that democratic systems rely on start to erode.
What Historians See That Tech Optimists Miss
One of Lepore’s keenest observations is that the tech industry has a selective memory. Silicon Valley often promotes a narrative of linear progress, suggesting each new tool outperforms the last while dismissing resistance as mere friction. Historians tell a far more complex story.
The introduction of automation in manufacturing, for instance, generated significant wealth but also devastated communities. The benefits tended to concentrate at the top, while the costs were felt across working-class neighborhoods. Whether AI follows a similar trajectory hinges on the policy decisions made now, before the technology becomes fully entrenched.
This is why Lepore emphasizes that this moment is more critical than many realize. The choices made today regarding AI regulation, oversight, and permissible uses will influence the technology for years to come.
| By The Numbers: The AI Governance Gap | |
|---|---|
| Book release date | August 25, 2025 |
| Lepore’s institution | Harvard University (history professor) |
| Publication | The New Yorker (staff writer) |
| Interview venue | The Verge’s Decoder podcast |
| Book title | The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State |
What This Means
If you’re using AI tools at work, dealing with automated customer service, or living in a city trying out AI-assisted policing or social services, Lepore’s argument is relevant to your life. The question isn’t if AI will change your life — it already is. The real question is whether you’re having a say in how those changes happen.
Lepore’s main message for everyday users is clear: don’t let anyone convince you that skepticism is naive. Asking who built the system, who benefits, and what happens when it fails isn’t Luddism — it’s being a responsible citizen. Just like you’d want a say in how a new power plant is built in your town, you have a legitimate interest in how AI systems are used in your community’s courts, schools, and government offices.
Her work also highlights that supporting even imperfect regulation doesn’t mean you’re against innovation. Historical examples show that regulated technologies often become safer, more reliable, and ultimately more widely adopted than those that resist oversight.
Community Reaction
“She’s basically saying what a lot of people feel but can’t articulate — that the problem isn’t the AI, it’s who controls it and who’s accountable when it screws up.”
“Finally someone with actual historical credentials talking about this instead of VCs and hype merchants. The automation comparison is one I keep coming back to.”
What To Watch
- August 25, 2025: The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State publishes. Expect considerable media attention and likely congressional interest given the book’s focus on AI governance.
- Fall 2025: The EU’s AI Act (the European Union’s comprehensive rules for AI use, similar to GDPR for data privacy) enters a critical enforcement phase. Lepore’s points about democratic accountability will be put to the test as regulators start applying these rules.
- Ongoing: Keep an eye on whether Lepore’s historical perspective influences the policy discussions in Washington, where AI regulation bills have stalled. Books by credible scholars have shifted political conversations before — her 2018 book on American history impacted Democratic policy platforms.
Daniel Park
Daniel Park covers AI, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise software for Explosion.com. A former software engineer who transitioned to technology journalism 5 years ago, Daniel brings technical depth to his reporting on artificial intelligence, startup funding rounds, and the companies building the future of computing. He breaks down complex AI developments and business strategies into clear, actionable insights for readers who want to understand how technology is reshaping industries.
