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There is a cyclical hypocrisy in how generations adopt technology. The same people who once mocked their elders for failing to grasp the internet are now resistant to AI, falling into the same pattern of fear and demonization. This historical repetition suggests that resisting technological evolution is futile.

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Professionals often dismiss AI to avoid the effort of learning it, just as they once mocked older relatives for struggling with new technology. This reluctance to adapt turns them into the very people they used to make fun of for being out of touch.

Every major communication technology has sparked a societal instinct to "control it before it controls you." Fears about AI and disinformation are not new; they echo the historical panic over heresy caused by the printing press. This reframes the current regulatory push as a predictable human reaction to disruptive innovation.

Every major innovation, from the bicycle ('bicycle face') to the internet, has been met with a 'moral panic'—a widespread fear that it will ruin society. Recognizing this as a historical pattern allows innovators to anticipate and navigate the inevitable backlash against their work.

History's major technological shifts—industrialization, electrification, the internet—each wiped out the careers of one to two generations. Those workers suffered while their grandchildren benefited. AI is likely to repeat this pattern, creating a generational chasm between those who lose and those who gain.

The negative reaction of recent graduates to AI is rooted in the historical reality that major technological shifts cause brutal, multi-generational disruption. Precedents like the Industrial Revolution show that it can take until the third generation (grandkids) for society to fully adapt and reap the benefits.

Widespread fear of AI is not a new phenomenon but a recurring pattern of human behavior toward disruptive technology. Just as people once believed electricity would bring demons into their homes, society initially demonizes profound technological shifts before eventually embracing their benefits.

Fearing new technology like AI is akin to refusing to watch "Toy Story" because it threatened 2D animation. History shows technological revolutions ultimately create more jobs and opportunities. The rational response is not to resist, but to adapt one's skills for the new landscape being created.

Major technological shifts are inevitable forces that create generational disruption but ultimately lead to progress. Like the chainsaw replacing the lumberjack, AI will displace jobs. Wasting resources trying to stop this change is futile; the focus should be on helping people adapt rather than trying to halt innovation.

From electricity (seen as demonic) to the atomic bomb, humanity has always demonized transformative technologies. Yet, we adapt and integrate them. The current cynicism about AI fails to account for this proven track record of human resilience and problem-solving.

Throughout history, new technologies have been met with "doom and gloom" predictions that rarely materialize. The fear that email would create a "paperless society" and bankrupt paper companies is a prime example of getting it wrong. This historical perspective suggests today's most dire predictions about AI are also likely incorrect.

Professionals Demonizing AI Are Repeating Their Grandparents' Fear of the Internet | RiffOn