Before the internet, information was handled using the American concept of a republic. We condensed data the way a republic condenses votes. A handful of people were empowered to muscle through the details and provide us with the top bullet points.
The internet has reverted the system to a pure democracy, where every single person gets to ‘vote’ on everything. This mirrors mankind’s first attempt at democracy in Greece. So, moving forward has moved us backward.
During the same period, ignorance of the truth has flourished. Our morality has regressed thousands of years. We are now dusting off ancient ideas rooted in paganism, and calling them progress.
I predict AI will have a similar arc. Unprecedented and rampant fraud will cause us to revert toward tangible currency that must be exchanged in person. Same for dating apps.
I think we are laying the groundwork for a post-industrial society.