Why Silicon Valley Leaders Are Bad Readers of Science Fiction, According to Historian Jill Lepore

In her new book, The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State, historian Jill Lepore criticizes tech companies for using grandiose language—akin to founding a new form of government—when marketing their products. According to Lepore's theory, Silicon Valley leaders misread science fiction texts and works, painting a less-than-flattering portrait of their technological visions.

Silicon Valley’s Language of the "Artificial State" and Political Metaphors

Tech companies have long tended to imbue their products with meanings that go far beyond ordinary software. Clear examples of this include X (formerly Twitter) being marketed in its early days as "the town square in your pocket," or the AI startup Anthropic adopting the concept of a "constitution" for its artificial intelligence models.

According to Jill Lepore's analysis, this massive discursive shift in the tech sector exposes companies' desire to replace traditional state structures or create digital authorities. However, the author argues that the fictional references and science fiction readings behind this vision are based on extremely superficial and flawed foundations.

Sectoral Ramifications and Tech Ethics

This utopian and revolutionary language used by the tech world in designing and marketing its products directly impacts user perception. The positioning of AI and digital platform developers as lawmakers or heads of state brings discussions on technology ethics to the forefront. Experts note that such metaphors make it harder to regulate companies and blur their lines of responsibility.

*This news report is based on data published by TechCrunch — AI.