The concern surrounding new technologies is not a new phenomenon. Artificial intelligence is the latest instance of a long history of apprehension. On October 5, 2026, Mark P. Mills penned an article for City Journal, a publication by the Manhattan Institute focusing on urban policy.
In 1862, The Lancet presented an in-depth analysis titled “The Influence of Railway Travelling on Public Health.” Railroads, at the time, introduced the concept of railway accidents, reported extensively by the media. Yet, the hazards were perceived to go far beyond mere accidents.
Experts of that era feared that increased train speeds might lead to passenger suffocation. There was also a belief that observing rapidly moving scenery could damage visual processing permanently. Some professionals asserted that the human body was inherently incapable of enduring such rapid velocities.
These historical perspectives illustrate a recurring theme in society’s reaction to technological advancement, underscoring the persistent nature of these fears across different eras.