A new essay draws on Joyce Appleby's history of capitalism, 'The Relentless Revolution,' to argue that current fears about artificial intelligence echo the zero-sum 'mercantilist' worldview that dominated economic thinking before market capitalism emerged. The author contends that just as mercantilists believed wealth was fixed and had to be seized through conquest or trade advantage, today's AI skeptics assume intelligence and economic value are similarly finite and must be hoarded or fought over.
contraptions.venkateshrao.com
· 2026-10-26
An opinion column contends that AI systems are mathematical models that do not rebel, and that describing them in human, rebellious terms obscures the real issue of human errors in their design and deployment. The author argues this anthropomorphizing language shifts blame away from the people and companies responsible for building and overseeing these systems.
wsj.com
· 2026-09-21
A framework suggests business leaders facing rapid AI adoption should pause and evaluate whether their reactions are grounded in strategy or driven by fear. The guidance frames AI's rise as significant organizational change rather than an emergency requiring panic-driven decisions.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-11
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