Historian Jill Lepore warns AI could create 'artificial states' run by corporations
Private control of digital infrastructure is replacing citizen consent with machine governance, Lepore argues.
The rise of artificial intelligence may lead to the emergence of "artificial states," shifting global power from democratic governments to private corporations. Historian and professor Jill Lepore warns that this transition threatens the fundamental principle of governance by citizen consent.
According to Lepore, an artificial state represents a world order where society is governed by machines owned by private entities rather than by elected representatives. She argues that this process is already underway, as corporations increasingly assume functions traditionally held by governments. This shift is most evident in the control of digital technologies used to disseminate news, manage election information, and shape political opinion on a global scale.
The erosion of public governance
This warning arrives as global debates intensify over AI safety and the potential for artificial general intelligence (AGI) to disrupt existing geopolitical orders. The transition toward an artificial state is not a sudden event but a gradual replacement of public infrastructure with proprietary systems. By controlling the flow of information and the algorithms that determine visibility, private companies now exercise a form of sovereignty that operates independently of traditional nation-state laws.
Implications for sovereignty
If AI systems and their owners continue to build autonomous economic and political structures, the sovereignty of existing governments could be fundamentally undermined. The creation of these unaccountable power centers means that critical societal decisions—ranging from information access to political discourse—are made by corporate boards and algorithms rather than through transparent, democratic processes. This shift risks creating a governance model where efficiency and profit outweigh the public interest and legal accountability.
Future outlook
Lepore is further exploring these themes in her upcoming book, "The Rise and Fall of the Artificial State." As AI capabilities expand, the central question remains whether international governance can evolve quickly enough to prevent the total displacement of the nation-state. Observers will be watching whether new regulatory frameworks can reclaim public control over the digital infrastructure that currently facilitates this shift toward corporate sovereignty.