Jill Lepore, the Pulitzer‑winning historian, argues that tech firms are steadily usurping government functions, creating what she calls an artificial state that threatens democratic norms.

She stresses that she is not anti‑technology; rather, her concern lies with private corporations increasingly acting as state actors without consent, a trend she traces back to the 1984 Apple ad and the 1996 Telecommunications Act.

Lepore cites Elon Musk and Sam Altman as emblematic leaders who blur the line between corporate ambition and state power, turning platforms into pseudo‑town halls and pushing for AI governance.

She urges readers to explore the missed alternatives of the 1990s internet debate, noting that by 2026, data‑center backlash and AI rhetoric have sintetized the illusion that tech can replace public institutions.

Ultimately, Lepore warns that the shift toward algorithmic rule marks a return to tyranny and mystification, urging vigilance over the corporatization of democracy.