In this episode, we delve into the tumultuous 20th century—the moment labor briefly triumphed, only to see its victories dismantled as corporate power roared back. From trust-busting and progressive reforms to the rise of unions and the birth of the middle class, we trace how shifting ideologies, automation, and soaring inequality set the stage for today’s precarious economy. And as we stand on the brink of an AI-driven era, we ask: did the 20th century’s unheeded lessons doom us all to repeat history?

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In this episode, we journey from the collapse of Rome through the Gilded Age to uncover how every economic system—feudal, mercantile, industrial—has relied on human labor to keep the wheels turning. But what happens when today’s emerging AI and robotics mean the wealthy no longer need a workforce at all? By retracing the bloody births and brutal shifts of past economies—from peasant revolts to robber barons—we reveal a stark new reality: labor has always held some power because it was indispensable. If the elite can automate everything, that power collapses. Join us for a riveting crash course in history that sets the stage for a potentially dystopian near-future—and challenges you to imagine a world where the everyday worker is optional.

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1. Paynter, R. (2012). Commentary on Gilded Ages, now and then. International Journal of Historical Archaeology, 16, 776–783.
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In this first episode of Roll the Boulder, we lift the curtain on a rapidly emerging future shaped by AI-driven job displacement and the unsettling possibility that the world’s wealthiest no longer need the rest of us. Through a vivid 2030 scenario, real headlines, and William Gibson’s prescient warning that “the future is already here—it’s just not evenly distributed,” you’ll see how automation is poised to upend stable careers, concentrate power in the hands of tech billionaires, and spark a slow slide into a new form of neo-feudalism. It’s a wake-up call woven into a gripping narrative: one moment you’re hearing coworkers joke uneasily about ChatGPT writing emails, the next you’re facing a national workforce program that seems more dystopian than democratic. If you’ve felt the tension of watching AI slip into your daily life but aren’t sure how deep this rabbit hole goes, you need to tune in. This episode sets the stage for everything to come—unraveling the hidden forces that brought us here and revealing how we might still write our own ending.

CITATIONS

https://www.npr.org/1993/08/31/1107153/science-fiction-writer-william-gibson

BBC News. (2023, March 28). AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million jobs - report. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-65102150

BBC News. (2023, July 10). AI to hit 40% of jobs and worsen inequality, IMF says. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/business-67977967

The Wall Street Journal. (2024, March 5). AI Is Starting to Threaten White-Collar Jobs. Few Industries Are Immune. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/ai-is-starting-to-threaten-white-collar-jobs-few-industries-are-immune

The Wall Street Journal. (2024, March 5). AI seems set to do to computer programming—and possibly other kinds of so-called knowledge work—what automation has done to other jobs. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/ai-is-starting-to-threaten-white-collar-jobs-few-industries-are-immune

Brookings Institution. (2023). Automation and the future of work. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/research/automation-and-the-future-of-work

BBC News. (2023, March 28). AI will disrupt many industries but could be mitigated through policy measures like workforce retraining and transitional support. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-65102150

BBC News. (2023, March 28). AI could replace a quarter of work tasks in the US and Europe. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-65102150

Financial Times. (2024). AI’s transformation of India's technology outsourcing business could lead to significant job loss. Retrieved from...