Technology leaders are captivated by AI’s potential to reshape society economically, politically, and socially. While many are influenced by these visions, an alternative view argues that automation and data collection primarily benefit those controlling digital technologies. In Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity, Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson demonstrate that globalization and automation have worked in tandem, driven by the desire to reduce labor costs and marginalize workers. Their research shows how AI can increase average productivity but may reduce workers' marginal productivity, reinforcing inequality rather than promoting shared prosperity.