Moc a pokrok - Tisíciletý boj o technologii a prosperitu – Acemoglu Daron (2024)

The authors of the book address technological progress from the beginnings of civilization to our time, examining its causes and, above all, its consequences for human society. They challenge the notion of some natural technological 'evolution' that occurs spontaneously and inevitably. They present evidence that the direction of technological progress is always a matter of decision, sometimes driven by economic or political power and other times by the persuasive ability of charismatic visionaries. Technological progress sometimes takes a direction that benefits society as a whole; however, far too often, decisions about the direction of progress lead to changes that affect everyone but benefit only a narrow elite. The authors support their claims with examples such as the development of settled agriculture, the industrial revolution, the construction of the Suez Canal, and the automation of labor, extending their analysis to the contemporary use of artificial intelligence. In this field, progress is faster than writing and publishing books, but it seems clear that once again, this technological revolution benefits the elites: authoritarian governments or billion-dollar tech companies. Acemoglu and Johnson conclude their book with a proposal of various measures that could at least redirect the flow of progress in the West...