For the Exposition Universelle of Paris in 1900, artists were commissioned to produce a series of cigar box cards on the theme ‘En l’an 2000’ (Life in the Year 2000), examples of which can be seen in the image above.
They conjured visions of motorised combat and submarine sport, communication by movies and remote dictation – and electricity – lots of it.
By the year 2000 it was anticipated we would farm, cook, be entertained, educated and travel extensively and cheaply by it. One particuarly alarming vision has an evening soiree of gentlefolk being warmed by an open radium heater in the fireplace.
In the first image above, schoolboys sit in their classroom with electrodes strapped to their heads while the teacher feeds books into a ‘mixer’, extracting their essence for transmission directly into the boys’ brains.
This gives us a great starting point for thinking about a more recent wave of futurist hype: the much vaunted arrival of Artificial Intelligence and GenAI in particular.
Few innovations have sparked the imagination and transformed society as profoundly as the advent of electricity in the late 1700s and early 1800s and the emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence today.
Both have elicited excitement, skepticism, and a dash of the fantastic, as they promised to redefine what was and will be possible. Here I’ll look at parallels between the two, highlighting the strange and wide-ranging use cases proposed for early electricity and reflecting on the wider implications of such transformative technologies.
The promise of new technology (and how to monetise it)
The harnessing of electricity in the 19th century promised to change the world in ways previously unimaginable. The initial public reaction ranged from awe to disbelief, with many struggling to grasp the full potential of the invisible force.
Among its curious applications was electrotherapy, where electric currents were used to treat various ailments, from depression to rheumatism, based on the belief that electricity could rejuvenate the body.
In 1836, the physician Golding Bird opened an ‘electrical room’ At Guy’s Hospital in London where he offered electrotherapy to deserving patients. Bird published exhaustive lists describing the patients’ ailments, the treatment and the cure (or otherwise). Nervous diseases were treated by drawing sparks from the spine and administering electric shocks. Bird’s treatments were entirely orthodox, designed to stimulate the nerves and muscles.
There were many less proven alternatives on the market though. Bird complained that rivals ‘blazon their electrical and galvanic nostrums as a panacea for every ill’.
The similarity between this and the ‘AI-washing’ of just about every software application or software-dependent product today is uncanny.
The parallel development of the telegraph at this time transformed communication, making it possible to transmit messages across vast distances almost instantly, a concept that seemed like magic to many.
The telegraph as a concept sheds light on how Victorians thought about their bodies and electricity. Invented in 1837 by Charles Wheatstone, professor of experimental philosophy at King’s College London, and William Fothergill Cooke, the telegraph’s capacity for almost instantaneous communication revolutionised how Victorians understood their world.
The telegraph engineer George Wilson prophesied how the telegraph would, ‘like the great nerves of the human body, unite in living sympathy all the far-scattered children of men’.
The nervous system circulated information and instructions through the body, just as the telegraph network circulated information and instructions through society: in both cases electricity was the medium of communication.
With the recent announcement of the successful testing of Elon MUsk’s Neuralink , heralding a new type of brain-machine interface (bmi), this once fanciful but helpful concept looks set to become a new, and potentially powerful and disruptive reality.
The primary drivers of technical innovation have not changed much.
Inevitably, the commercialisation of electricity encompassed sexual behaviours and thinking. In one popular demonstration, a young woman stood on a stool holding a connection to an electrical machine. As long as no one touched her all was fine, but when a gentleman was challenged to give her a kiss the sparks literally flew.
In 1781 the medical entrepreneur James Graham offered a ‘Celestial Bed’, charging wealthy childless clients £50 a night (over £21,000 in today’s money) to have sex in an electrified canopy, establishing a link between electricity, sex and fertility that would persist throughout the Victorian age and beyond.
These applications, ranging from the practical to the peculiar and ultimately unethical, reflect a period of experimentation and exploration, much like the current era of GenAI.
The Rise of GenAI
Today, Generative AI stands at a similar inflection point, offering capabilities that, until recently, were the stuff of science fiction. GenAI can generate text, images, music, and even code, mimicking human creativity and intelligence. The public’s reaction has been a mix of amazement and apprehension, paralleling the early days of electricity.
AI in Creative Arts: GenAI is being used to compose music, create artworks, and write stories, challenging our perceptions of creativity and originality. This mirrors the astonishment that greeted the first demonstrations of electric lights in theaters and concert halls.
Automated Workflows: Just as electricity automated manual labor, GenAI is automating intellectual tasks, from drafting emails to coding, suggesting a future where AI handles routine cognitive tasks.
Enhanced Communication: AI chatbots and virtual assistants are revolutionizing customer service and personal productivity, akin to how the telegraph and telephone changed communication.
The parallels between electricity and GenAI extend beyond their applications to include societal impacts, regulatory challenges, and ethical considerations.
Societal Transformation and Challenges
Both electricity and GenAI catalyzed profound societal transformations, reshaping industries, politics, economies, and daily life. However, each also introduced challenges that required societal adaptation and regulatory oversight.
Infrastructure and Access
The widespread adoption of electricity necessitated the development of extensive infrastructure, from power plants to distribution networks, raising questions about access and equity. Similarly, GenAI’s potential is contingent on digital infrastructure and raises concerns about digital divides and the equitable distribution of its benefits.
Regulatory and Ethical Considerations
The regulation of electricity, including safety standards and pricing, was a complex process that evolved over decades. GenAI faces similar challenges, with debates over privacy, data protection, and the ethical use of AI technologies as well as its significant impact on the environment in terms of power and water consumption. Ensuring that GenAI is developed and used responsibly requires careful consideration of these issues.
Workforce Transformation
Just as electricity led to the automation of manual labor, prompting shifts in the workforce, GenAI is poised to automate cognitive tasks, necessitating retraining and education to prepare workers for new roles in an AI-enhanced economy. A recent report by the International Monetary Fund estimated that up to 60% of the workforce in advanced economies was exposed to significant risk of replacement or disruption by GenAI by 2030.
Igniting the spark of innovation – or watching the house burn down?
A comparison between the initial hype surrounding electricity in the 1800s and today’s excitement about GenAI reveals striking similarities in human reactions to transformative technologies.
Both periods were marked by a mix of wonder, skepticism, and a flurry of inventive applications, some of which became integral to modern life while others faded into obscurity. The challenges of integrating these technologies into society—balancing innovation with regulation, ensuring equitable access, and adapting the workforce—highlight the importance of thoughtful stewardship as we stand on the brink of new technological frontiers.
As we navigate the GenAI revolution, it is instructive to look back at the journey of electricity. By learning from the past, we can better prepare for a future where GenAI, like electricity before it, becomes an indispensable part of our daily lives, enhancing human capabilities and opening new avenues for creativity, efficiency, and connectivity.
