Growing up in America's Golden Age and Growing Old in the Age of AI

As the title suggests, Part One of this book chronicles the so-called “Golden Age” of America from the perspective of a Baby Boomer growing up in the latter half of the 20th century. The first ten chapters are designed to paint as clear a picture as possible of this alleged Golden Age by presenting vignettes from the author’s own life, complimented by commentaries that place these vignettes into a broader socio-political context. The intended result is a more balanced view of this time in history.
In Part Two, the author draws a portrait of more recent times, and endeavors to predict what lies ahead for all of us in the “Age of AI.” In 1945, the technologies on the “white-magic” side of the scientific spectrum contributed to the unprecedented prosperity of the half-century of America’s purported Golden Age. In 2025, the author posits that the soon-to-be dominant technology we have labeled “Generative Artificial Intelligence” poses an existential threat to our prosperity and our democracy, but also the potential—following a likely period of wrenching trials and tribulations—for a new Golden Age.