Jill Lepore on the ‘Artificial State’ and why Silicon Valley’s leaders are bad sci-fi readers

# Jill Lepore on the ‘Artificial State’ and why Silicon Valley's leaders are bad sci-fi readers Source: [https://techcrunch.com/podcast/jill-lepore-on-the-artificial-state-and-why-silicon-valleys-leaders-are-bad-sci-fi-readers/](https://techcrunch.com/podcast/jill-lepore-on-the-artificial-state-and-why-silicon-valleys-leaders-are-bad-sci-fi-readers/) Historian Jill Lepore has a theory about why tech companies often use soaring language to describe their products — almost as if they’re forming a new government\. And whether you’re thinking of Twitter’s old “town hall in your pocket” or[Anthropic’s Claude constitution](https://www.anthropic.com/constitution), it’s a theory that doesn’t paint Silicon Valley in a very flattering light\. In Lepore’s upcoming book,[*The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State*](https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324098423), the Pulitzer Prize\-winning Harvard historian and New Yorker writer argues that tech companies are gradually taking on the functions of democratic government — whether that’s Twitter giving a distorted picture of the electorate or Facebook displacing local news\. In her view, these leaders often mistake technological advancement for political progress, all while[outright declaring their intention to replace the nation\-state](https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/02/malaysia-is-reportedly-shutting-down-balaji-srinivasans-network-school/)\. On this episode of TechCrunch’s[Equity](https://techcrunch.com/podcasts/equity/)podcast, Anthony Ha talks with Lepore about her book and why she thinks today’s AI leaders — who promise a future where AI makes government more efficient, more responsive, and maybe even unnecessary — are selling an old fantasy in new packaging\. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: - Why Lepore sees a straight line from the classic 1984 Macintosh ad to Anthropic’s AI constitution and Sam Altman’s comments about an “AI president” - How E\.M\. Forster’s 1909 sci\-fi story “The Machine Stops” provides a blueprint for the artificial state, and why Lepore says it now reads like “the diary of a very unhappy YouTuber” - Why Lepore believes the artificial state is ultimately unsustainable, and what she thinks it would take to rein it in Subscribe to Equity on[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@TechCrunch),[Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1215439780),[Overcast](https://overcast.fm/itunes1215439780/equity),[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/5IEYLip3eDppcOmy5DmphC?si=rZDFHv2sQUul_g94iCRgpQ)and all the casts\. You also can follow Equity on[X](https://twitter.com/EquityPod)and[Threads](https://www.threads.net/@equitypod), at @EquityPod\. Anthony Ha is TechCrunch’s weekend editor\. Previously, he worked as a tech reporter at Adweek, a senior editor at VentureBeat, a local government reporter at the Hollister Free Lance, and vice president of content at a VC firm\. He lives in New York City\. You can contact or verify outreach from Anthony by emailing[anthony\.ha@techcrunch\.com](mailto:[email protected])\. [View Bio](https://techcrunch.com/author/anthony-ha/) Theresa Loconsolo is an audio producer at TechCrunch focusing on Equity, the network’s flagship podcast\. Before joining TechCrunch in 2022, she was one of 2 producers at a four\-station conglomerate where she wrote, recorded, voiced and edited content, and engineered live performances and interviews from guests like lovelytheband\. Theresa is based in New Jersey and holds a bachelors degree in Communication from Monmouth University\. You can contact or verify outreach from Theresa by emailing[theresa\.loconsolo@techcrunch\.com](mailto:[email protected])\. [View Bio](https://techcrunch.com/author/theresa-loconsolo/) ## Most Popular