Dall’agricoltura all’intelligenza artificiale: l’ascesa di un Nuovo Ordine Imperiale della conoscenza

Abstract

This article explores the historical and social parallels between the agricultural revolution and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). It examines how agriculture, emerging 10,000 years B.C., and AI, developed over the past century, have reshaped human societies by enabling new economic and political structures. The paper highlights how surpluses – food in the former, cognitive capacity in the latter – have driven the rise of power elites and imperial frameworks. Through a historical overview, a comparative analysis of social stratification and power dynamics, and an exploration of AI-driven monopoly strategies, it addresses future scenarios and ethical challenges, including the risk of cognitive neo-feudalism. The role of cultures and religions in regulating these transformations is also considered, alongside reflections on science fiction as a lens for envisioning AI’s societal impact.