The Bunker – News without the nonsense Were the Luddites right? – Why A.I. is making it seem that way
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Aug 8, 2025 
Brian Merchant, author of *Blood in the Machine*, delves into the relevance of the Luddites, a historical movement against oppressive technology, amid today's AI advancements. He argues the Luddites' fears resonate now as AI threatens jobs and societal structures. Merchant addresses the amorality of tech, explores Ned Ludd's legacy, and emphasizes the need for collective worker resistance to challenge modern exploitation. The discussion connects past protests to ongoing anxieties about automation, urging a fresh perspective on technological progress.
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Ned Ludd's Origin Story
- Ned Ludd was a fictional apprentice cloth worker who smashed oppressive machinery after being whipped by his master.
- He became a symbolic hero for the Luddites, embodying the working-class struggle against industrial oppression.
Luddite Movement's Scale and Cause
- The Luddite movement was large and had deep social roots amid rising industrial mechanization and economic hardship.
- It was a reaction to automation threatening wages, working conditions, and legal protections for skilled artisans.
Luddites' Tactical Machine Breaking
- Luddites warned factory owners to remove 'obnoxious machines' or face their machinery-smashing protests.
- They targeted only machines that violated social contracts, such as speeding up work or using child labor.
