The Historical Context of Tech Resistance
In The Making of the English Working Class, historian EP Thompson challenged the condescending view of Luddism, arguing that early 19th-century workers weren't blindly resisting machinery but opposing a laissez-faire logic that ignored the disastrous impact on their lives.
Modern Parallels: AI and Worker Powerlessness
Today, as Britain rolls out the red carpet for US big tech, it's outsourcing a modern industrial revolution. Photographers, coders, and writers can relate to the powerlessness felt by historical workers, as unlicensed use of their creative labor to train generative AI has delivered vast revenues to Silicon Valley while making their livelihoods increasingly precarious.
Public Concerns and Economic Risks
New research by the Tony Blair Institute shows a large plurality of Britons see AI as a risk to the economy rather than an opportunity. From the worker's perspective, automating swathes of the labor force may boost shareholder dividends, but the upside for displaced humans is unclear. AI is already squeezing entry-level jobs in white-collar occupations, and energy-hungry datacenters from the UK-US prosperity deal bring significant environmental costs with little new work.
Broader Social and Cultural Impacts
There's public unease about AI's cultural impact. The Post Office scandal highlighted the dangers of letting anonymous tech control people's lives. Opaque algorithms fuel extremism and disinformation online, exemplified by Elon Musk's trollery.
Government Strategy and Criticisms
In its scramble for growth, Labour seems content to hand Britain's tech future to companies like Nvidia and Microsoft. Sir Nick Clegg warns this means playing on Silicon Valley's terms, risking hollowed-out public capacity and oversight—a reckless approach when power is already seen as captured by self-serving elites.
A Worker-First Approach
The Trades Union Congress recently published a "worker-first" strategy for AI, stating that "unmanaged disruption is not inevitable or acceptable." It calls for employees' voices to be heard in tech deployment, noting that workers in affected sectors are best placed to understand AI's societal benefits and dangers.
The Role of State and Public Interest
Economist Mariana Mazzucato argues that state investment drove many AI breakthroughs. Now, AI must be managed for the common good, requiring a public conversation beyond big tech's commercial priorities. A Labour government should convene this debate, starting in the workplace.
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