Jill Lepore warns of democratic risks in ‘Artificial State’

In her new book, ‘The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State’, Harvard historian Jill Lepore examines how artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure impact democratic values. Lepore defines the ‘Artificial State’ as an unfinished digital communications infrastructure used by governments and private corporations to organize and automate political behavior and public discourse through algorithms, social media, AI agents, and bots.

Lepore argues that this digital shift makes essential democratic elements—including civil society, freedom of expression, and an informed citizenry—vulnerable to manipulation. Beyond political implications, she highlights environmental concerns, noting that AI data center energy consumption could increase by as much as 200% between 2025 and 2030, largely driven by fossil fuels.

To counter these trends, Lepore suggests a return to human-centric intellectual pursuits, such as the study of philosophy, history, literature, and the exercise of reason, to maintain a meaningful connection to humanity in an automated age.