Thinking Machines

The Butlerian Jihad(opens in new tab), a pivotal event in the Dune universe, tells of humanity's last stand against thinking machines. After winning this war against AI, humans systematically destroyed all computers and robots, forbidding the creation of machines that could mimic human thought. While this may seem extreme, the warning at its core resonates deeply with our current predicament:

I point out to you … a lesson from past over-machined societies which you appear not to have learned. The devices themselves condition the users to employ each other the way they employ machines.

This warning has proved prophetic. Today, we find ourselves treating each other increasingly like NPCs in a vast digital game, reducing human interactions to likes, swipes, and algorithmic recommendations. As we hurtle towards an AI-dominated future, we're beginning to see the consequences that science fiction has long warned us about.

People are starved for community and connection. Mental and physical health are declining, tormented by terminally online and sedentary lifestyles. As we inch towards a brave new world of A(G)I, robots, and automation, promises of a greater future are equally met with fears of job loss and social deterioration.

Two dystopian futures seem increasingly possible: one where technocracy and political aristocracy fuse into an all-encompassing surveillance state, and another where we drown in AI-generated content and cheap digital thrills, keeping the populace in an addiction-fueled comatose. Both appear to be unfolding simultaneously.

Unlike Dune, no great jihad against machines appears on our horizon. No laws or regulations seem capable of stemming this tide. Instead, we appear destined for an existence somewhere between /r/latestagecapitalism(opens in new tab) and /r/aboringdystopia(opens in new tab), where feeds are cluttered with junk, everything is commodified, and quality content sits behind paywalls.

Yet, unlike Dune's solution of complete technological rejection, a different kind of resistance is emerging.

Schools are beginning to collect smartphones at their doors. A growing movement of digital minimalists is choosing to abandon smart devices for simpler alternatives. Most encouragingly, younger generations are increasingly rejecting the endless scroll of social media in favor of real-world connections: running groups, book clubs, and new community spaces.

These acts of resistance aren't about destroying technology—they're about reclaiming our humanity from it. While we may not need a Butlerian Jihad, we do need to consciously choose how technology serves us, not the other way around. The future of human autonomy may not lie in the complete rejection of thinking machines, but in small acts of digital rebellion sprouting up through the concrete of our algorithmic world.

The choice between human connection and technological convenience isn't binary. Instead, it's about finding a balance that preserves our humanity while benefiting from technological advancement. This balance will be found not through grand political movements or corporate initiatives, but through individual choices and community actions that prioritize genuine human connection over digital simulation.