In 2002, Maine became the first state to implement a statewide laptop program to some grade levels. Then-governor Angus King saw the program as a way to put the internet at the fingertips of more children, who would be able to immerse themselves in information.
By that fall, the Maine Learning Technology Initiative had distributed 17,000 Apple laptops to seventh graders across 243 middle schools. By 2016, those numbers had multiplied to 66,000 laptops and tablets distributed to Maine students.
King’s initial efforts have been mirrored across the country. In 2024, the U.S. spent more than $30 billion putting laptops and tablets in schools. But more than a quarter-century and numerous evolving models of technology later, psychologists and learning experts see a different outcome than the one King intended. Rather than empowering the generation with access to more knowledge, the technology had the opposite effect.
That’s the whole point! They can sell you the technology and you are dependent. They have control. They just market it as “safety features” because who doesn’t want safety?
Sam Altman literally said he wants to sell intelligence on tap. What did you think that will look like? The owe worship class doesn’t want smart thinking people, it want obedient workers just smart enough not to damage themselves or cause inconvenience.
Robots will be our replacement, until then we are just sheep.