Countering the influence of ‘mass man’ with AI [Video]

A global trend of societies embracing mediocrity and eschewing free thought could be countered by AI-powered technology, writes Paul Budde.

I RECENTLY FOLLOWED a lecture on the Spanish philosopher José Ortega y Gasset and was particularly struck by his critique of “mass man”. as described in his book, The Revolt of the Masses.

In this work, Ortega provides a sobering perspective on the challenges facing modern society. His concept of mass man depicts a collective mindset that dismisses intellectual rigour, thrives on entitlement, and rejects the cultural and intellectual foundations that sustain civilisation. This critique resonates strongly in today’s polarised and media-saturated world, where low-quality input often shapes political, social and economic discourse.

To better understand Ortega’s ideas, it’s helpful to outline his core critiques of mass man.

Ortega warns of the following:

• a rejection of intellectual and cultural foundations, where mass man benefits from civilisation’s advancements without valuing or understanding their roots;
• a sense of entitlement without a corresponding …