Ever wonder how Ned Ludd and his followers—iconic “machine breakers” of the early nineteenth century—connect to our modern struggles with AI-driven automation? In this episode, we spotlight the thundering events captured in Brian Merchant’s Blood in the Machine, unearthing how the Industrial Revolution’s winners and losers mirror today’s battles over technology’s impact on labor. Then, we examine how Explainable AI (XAI) could prevent us from repeating the mistakes of the past—allowing us to harness cutting-edge tech in ways that genuinely benefit everyone. From factories of 1811 to algorithmic workplaces of now, join us as we unravel who truly gains from these transformations—and how we can ensure it’s all of us.