Technology has posed threats before. AI can be managed, too, historian says.
By Laina Gustafson · Sep 17, 2026, 3:27 PM CDT
Margaret O’Mara has studied similar points in American history and says that the pace of artificial intelligence growth and the technology’s risks do not have to be overwhelming.
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Layer 1 · Claims & fact checks
AI analysisLayer 3 · Reporting analysis
AI analysisAppeal to AuthorityThe author invokes O’Mara’s scholarly background to lend credibility to the claim that AI risks can be managed.
Optimistic FramingThe language downplays potential dangers, framing AI as a manageable challenge.
Context
AI analysisMissing context
The piece provides no concrete examples of past technological threats, no data on AI development speed, no discussion of specific risks, and no counter‑arguments from other experts or stakeholders.
Important context
The claim is situated within ongoing public debate about AI safety, regulation, and historical analogies to previous disruptive technologies.
Opinion vs. reporting
AI analysisThe article blends reporting with opinion, presenting O’Mara’s perspective without independent verification or balanced viewpoints.