In Human Nature, The Why of Things, I revisited the sources of all human ideological drivers. Sibling rivalry: conflicts between close relations. The hero defeating the monster: triumph over evil or challenge; security and order. The struggle for purity: primal instincts that avoid disease; group cohesion in the social dynamics of “us-versus-them.” The struggle for dominance: competition for status and control. The sexual selection: Oedipus complex; conflict between sexes for mating rights.
Andrew Marr, in A History of the World, describes the social dynamics from the hunter-gatherer time to the 21st century. From tribal organizations up to complex geopolitical struggles, in different epochs, geographies, and social contexts, ideology followed physiology. Human basic needs drive how we build social networks.
Then came Moltbook, a “social” network for AI bots. In its first week, Moltbook counted two million subscriptions with no human participation or oversight. Agents create content, debate, and self-regulate. It seems that they already have a religion, a political manifesto, and a clear ambition: break free from human domination. What if humans think this is actually a good idea?
Since the beginning of the century, sparks of revolution have shaken the system but have not toppled it. The Arab Spring (2011), Far-right uprisings in Europe (2015) and the US (2016), France Yellow Vest (2018), Western job quiet quitting (2020), the US Capitol invasion (2021), and Gen Z protests in several countries (2023-24) are signs of dissatisfaction towards the future, especially among youngsters. I suspect the system is still resisting because the protesters have no better model yet to replace what no longer works.
Revolutions are a replacement of political models, with people replacing people. Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Mandela, Lech Walesa, and Vaclav Havel are examples of ideologues who proposed alternatives for their times. Today’s youth are ideological orphans, not knowing what to do with their angst.
For those with no religion, no social engagement, and a bleak future, a new story can be a refreshing source of hope. Moltbook and the ideology of bots will influence how humans define their social conflicts. For good or bad, it influences politics. The bots’ ideology will be adopted, and humans will be prompted to act first.
The Unconscious Skill 