AI can change absolutely everything about our society. But, in a classist world, the ruling class has a strong influence on any change.

I rewound to the 15th century and the invention of the Gutenberg Press to see what I could learn through the similarities and differences with AI.

First, let’s rewind to the 15th century: Gutenberg Press

I started by wondering: what did the ruling class think of the Gutenberg Press when it first came out?

• Printing made knowledge more accessible = mass literacy potential.
• But early elites weren’t excited—they were suspicious.

This was pre-capitalism. Elites were land-owning nobles + the church

• Their power came from controlling knowledge, not selling it.
• So the Press = a threat to ideological authority, not a business opportunity.

They tried to stop it:

• Censorship, book bans, keeping everything in Latin.
• But they couldn’t stop the flood. It helped spark the Reformation and modern democracy.
  • I think it’s cool that progressivism, Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, is what went viral to help spread this technology.

Now, let’s fast-forward to today: AI

Totally different vibe. Today’s elites are pushing AI, not resisting it.