Public concern is growing that AI is out of control, and about to consume much of culture, including a plethora of jobs. Nonetheless, many of these criticisms are superficial, due to a lack of focus on an important underlying concern. Specifically, an assessment of history is missing. Regularly, this technology is portrayed as riding the crest of history and delivering the future. As a result, an AI-dominated future seems almost inevitable. This outlook rests on an autonomous image of history that is questionable, due to recent changes in philosophy. The aim of this paper is to illustrate this philosophical change, along with the implications for understanding history and the future of AI. This shift in orientation will enable persons to supply more direction to this technology.
