# AI Isn’t a Revolution, Yet

> U.S. public can shape AI’s spread like 18th-century Britons controlled steam power.
- Title: AI Isn’t a Revolution, Yet · Foreign Policy | Shortify
- Summary: U.S. public can shape AI’s spread like 18th-century Britons controlled steam power. American public can delay AI’s revolutionary impact by resisting…
- Keywords: us public, industrial revolution, luddites, steam power, antitrust, product liability, government contracts, ai regulation, safety standards, openai, anthropic, Isn
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/10/30/artificial-intelligence-ai-revolution-technology-history-luddites
- Author: Priya Satia
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ai, us public, industrial revolution, luddites, steam power, antitrust, product liability, government contracts, ai regulation, safety standards, openai, anthropic
## Historical parallel
The Industrial Revolution was initially seen as a slow process rather than a revolution.
## British resistance
Working-class britons slowed steam power adoption through riots, machine-breaking, and unions.
## Luddites' purpose
Luddites targeted exploitative factory systems, not power looms themselves.
## Historical insight
E. P. Thompson described factory owners as engaging in immoral practices that harmed workers.
## AI CEOs' claim
AI company CEOs claim their technology is too revolutionary to be regulated.
## Historical comparison
Economist Daron Acemoglu compares current ai development to industrial revolution’s 80-year timeline.
## Government role
U.s. government has been passive in enforcing ai product safety regulations.
## Public agency
American taxpayers fund government contracts that influence ai development.
## European action
European union passed laws to slow ai rollout by prohibiting unsafe systems.
## Public resistance
Americans can organize to demand ai safety through unions and public pressure.
## Historical outcome
British resistance improved workers’ living standards and created democratic society ideals.
## AI safety
Openai paused model release due to security concerns after public pressure.
## Public decision
American public will determine whether ai becomes a revolutionary force.
## Government contracts
U.s. government military contracts accelerated ai development without safety oversight.
## Luddite legacy
Luddites created democratic society ideals through resistance to industrialization.
## Public action
Americans can demand ai safety through pension shifts and coalition building.
## Key takeaway

American public can delay AI’s revolutionary impact by resisting corporate claims of unstoppable change.