

Blood in the Machine: Brian Merchant on what we can learn from the 19th century Luddites in our digital age of gig work and generative AI
Sep 19, 2023
Brian Merchant, technology columnist for the Los Angeles Times and author of The One Device, discusses the Luddite rebellion against Big Tech, exploring its origins, cultural influence, and parallels to gig work and generative AI. The podcast touches on the impact of automation, anxieties surrounding AI and job displacement, and the need for democratic technologies and individual involvement in decision-making about AI.
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Introduction
00:00 • 3min
Luddites: Past and Present
02:36 • 17min
The Luddite Rebellion and its Impact
19:29 • 10min
Exploring the Origins of Rebellion Against Big Tech and the Luddites' Resistance to Industrialization
29:08 • 3min
The Parallels Between Gig Work and the Luddite Struggles
31:56 • 11min
The Anxiety of AI and Automation
43:04 • 2min
Lessons from the Luddites: Organizing and Protecting Livelihoods in the Digital Age
44:53 • 3min