Jill Lepore's 'The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State' Reviewed in The Guardian

Historian Jill Lepore has released a new work titled The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State, which Farrah Jarral reviewed for The Guardian. The review highlights how the book explores the rise of a dystopian reality that threatens democracy, which is already partially evident. Lepore's notion of the Artificial State is broad, reflecting both a coveted fantasy for a minority and a current reality. The narrative examines a fragmented society where an elite can escape biological and environmental limits, forsaking constitutional democracy, the liberal nation-state, and even humanity in favor of machine governance and AI dominance. The review also reflects on Lepore's extensive writings in The New Yorker regarding technology and politics. Notably, the book cover, designed with a satirical touch, draws inspiration from a 1936 RUR (Rossum's Universal Robot) poster by the NYC Federal Theater Project's Marionette Theater, which is based on Karel Capek's work that coined the term robot. The U.K. edition features a more amiable robot, contrasting with RUR's menacing portrayal. This book contributes to the ongoing discourse about the dangers posed by artificial intelligence to liberal democracy and the influence of private tech firms.