Artificial intelligence is desperately seeking its narrative

Since the foundational work of Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter, research has distinguished invention from innovation by its practical implementation. Whether an innovation spreads, however, depends partly on its social acceptance and how its uses are perceived. Without such acceptance, even a promising technology may remain confined to scientific experiments and investors’ speculation. To gain public support, an innovation needs a compelling narrative capable of generating interest, if not enthusiasm. Artificial intelligence illustrates this phenomenon: while its narrative is still taking shape, its social acceptability is increasingly contested.

In July 2026, Le Monde diplomatique declared that “The AI backlash has begun”. The initial sense of wonder generated by ChatGPT has increasingly given way to broader public unease about AI’s social consequences, from its effects on work, education and information to concerns about privacy, the environment and the growing power of technology companies. In this emerging narrative, AI appears as a “digital Moloch” whose costs are borne collectively while its benefits accrue to only a handful of oligarchs.

In May 2026, when former Google CEO Eric Schmidt addressed nearly 10,000 graduates at the University of Arizona, warning that artificial intelligence would transform every single profession, boos echoed through the crowd. Since then, commencement speeches focused on AI have faced similar jeers at several other US universities. This unrest aligns with data: a Harvard Kennedy School survey, cited by the Associated Press, reveals that roughly 70% of American students now view AI as a direct threat to their career prospects.