The last time my family was replaced by technology
The author reflects on their family history of farriers transitioning into mechanics to cope with technological change, drawing parallels to modern anxieties about AI. The piece suggests that while specific roles evolve, the underlying purpose of work often remains consistent.
Why it matters
This personal narrative provides a historical perspective on the fear of technological displacement, offering a counter-narrative to the current 'AI doom' discourse.
My great-great-grandfather thought he’d be replaced by technology too.
He was a farrier in Mandres-en-Barrois, the small village in rural France where I grew up. Shoeing horses, repairing farmers' carts. Then he saw a car drive through the next town over, or read an article about it in the paper. I can't tell what exactly happened in his mind at that moment, but soon after, he became a mechanic, like every man in the family after him.
In the end, and maybe after a long stretch of grief at trading his horses for engine grease, he kept his purpose: helping people get around. He just changed the technology, going from horses to engines.
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