A history of fear of novelty: We expected disaster every time. And it didn’t come

When a new product appears, such as a book, a phone, a calculator or artificial intelligence, society often reacts with panic. The concerns are varied. Will we lose skills? Will we lose morale? Will a new machine replace us? History shows that these fears recur in new forms, although the results tend to be more varied and less catastrophic than the expectations themselves. This is related to the universal human tendency to overestimate the short-term damage and underestimate the long-term benefits of new technologies.

Scientists even have a name for this situation. Fear of novelty is called technological panic. And it’s been with humanity since the beginning of time and is unlikely to go away. In the past, people were afraid of a simple calculator, but today artificial intelligence is on the chopping block. But is the fear really so justified?

Books and print: the end of the old order?

When printing became widespread in the 15th century, some contemporaries predicted a cultural collapse. They feared that the role of scribes would end, the quality of texts would decline and social relations would break down. In reality, however, printing rapidly expanded access to information. It is estimated that by 1500, several million copies were already printed in Europe. This fundamentally changed the spread of education, religious reform and scientific communication.

However, printing also brought problems. Disinformation, censorship, and economic competition for traditional professions show that disaster usually manifests itself not as absolute collapse but as a rearrangement of institutions with winners and losers. Historians emphasize that the impact of the press was complex, that is, social benefits were mixed with conflicts over control of information and authority.

Calculators and the loss of skills: a threat to reason?

When calculators began to appear in schools in the 1960s and 1970s, teachers and commentators warned that pupils would lose basic arithmetic skills. They feared we would lose the ability to count in our heads. However, empirical studies have shown a surprising result: when calculators were available, no long-term decline in basic math skills was found. On the contrary, where calculators were included in a pedagogically meaningful way, they were able to extend abilities to solve more complex problems and promote understanding.

This is not to say, of course, that the concerns were entirely unfounded. Incorrect or premature use of the tools can lead to laziness in teaching or loss of some routine skills. But the historical lesson is clear. Rather than banning or hysterically dismissing, it is more effective to introduce new tools with a pedagogy that preserves core skills while taking advantage of new developments.

Artificial intelligence and a new wave of old fears

Job losses, moral decay, the spread of false information. These older fears are constantly emerging in society in conjunction with AI. But new fears are also coming. People fear autopiloted systems, generative models and rapid deployment without a regulatory framework.

Current surveys show high levels of uncertainty. In the US, for example, a significant portion of the public expresses more concern than enthusiasm, and specifically a high percentage of respondents fear the spread of inaccurate AI-generated information and the disruption of social ties.

As with previous technologies, a dual outcome can be expected. Some professions may be significantly transformed or reduced, while others will be created or enhanced. Some social risks will prove serious and require regulation and education, while other predicted disasters will not manifest.