‘When machines took over’: AI’s sarcastic tackle industrial revolution

Ah, the Industrial Revolution—a time when humanity collectively determined that hand-crafted items have been for amateurs and that steam energy was the long run.
Let’s take a light-hearted look again at this period of coal mud, steam engines, and the very first cases of “Are we there but?” from manufacturing facility staff in every single place.

A quick historical past (Type of)

Image it: the late 18th century. Folks have been fortunately spinning wool by hand, after which—BAM!—a bunch of inventors mentioned, “What if we let machines do this as a substitute?” Enter the spinning jenny, a machine so revolutionary it made the hand-spun wool seem like a primitive interest. If you happen to thought getting a brand new smartphone was thrilling, think about how thrilled people have been after they first noticed a manufacturing facility machine! (Spoiler: they weren’t thrilled. Extra like terrified.)

Picture credit score: lexica.artwork

Then got here steam energy, the caffeine of the Industrial Revolution. Immediately, every part was powered by steam. Trains, boats, and even that neighbor who stored saying, “I’ll be there in a minute!” have been fueled by this new vitality supply. Steam engines turned out to be so environment friendly that they might energy total factories—together with a major quantity of Victorian angst as staff have been changed by machines. It was like watching your favourite barista get changed by a merchandising machine: environment friendly, however the place’s the persona?

Picture credit score: lexica.artwork

With the rise of factories got here the rise of the nine-to-five workday. Beforehand, individuals labored primarily based on the solar’s schedule, however now they have been clocking in to guarantee that their boss might afford one more high hat. Think about the primary day on the manufacturing facility: “Welcome to your new job! Right here’s your work station, and by the way in which, your lunch break is barely quarter-hour. Get pleasure from your day!”

Factories have been just like the quick meals joints of the period—environment friendly, standardized, and with a facet of monotony. Staff toiled in situations that may make even the hardiest souls rethink their profession paths. Consider it as an all-you-can-eat buffet of labor, however with much more grime and approach fewer dessert choices.

As factories sprung up, cities grew like weeds in a backyard. Folks flocked to city areas hoping to flee the drudgery of rural life, solely to search out themselves dwelling in cramped flats that resembled shoeboxes with higher plumbing. City life was a blended bag: bustling markets, cultural range, and the occasional horse-drawn carriage that determined to “unload” proper in entrance of you.

Picture credit score: lexica.artwork

Let’s not neglect the improvements! The Industrial Revolution was like a tech convention on steroids. The cotton gin, the steam engine, and even the facility loom burst onto the scene like flashy new merchandise. Everybody was buzzing in regards to the future, whereas some people have been nonetheless making an attempt to determine methods to function their newfangled spinning wheels with out by chance knitting a sweater for an elephant.

Picture credit score: lexica.artwork

On reflection, the Industrial Revolution was a blended bag of progress, invention, and a complete lot of soot. Whereas it laid the groundwork for the trendy world, it additionally raised the query: have been we actually prepared for machines to take over? The reply, clearly, was no. However we dove in headfirst, as a result of who might resist the allure of steam-powered every part?

Picture credit score: lexica.artwork

So right here’s to the Industrial Revolution: the time when humanity mentioned, “Let’s crank up some machines, neglect about contemporary air, and see what occurs!” We could have gained factories, trains, and a questionable quantity of progress, however we additionally discovered that typically it’s good to take a break from the machines and simply… spin our personal wool on occasion.