The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is by Justin Smith-Ruiu Summary

The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is by Justin E. H. Smith traces the internet’s origins to ancient philosophical ideas and natural systems, challenging its reputation as a purely modern innovation. Smith argues that today’s internet, dominated by social media and data extraction, has abandoned centuries-old utopian visions of improving human thought and connectivity. The book blends history, philosophy, and warnings about attention economies.

This book is ideal for readers interested in the philosophy of technology, digital culture critiques, or the historical roots of modern innovations. Philosophers, tech ethicists, and anyone questioning the internet’s societal impact will find Smith’s interdisciplinary analysis—linking AI, silk-weaving looms, and tree communication—provocative and enlightening.

Yes, for its bold recontextualization of the internet as part of a deeper human-nature-technology continuum. Smith’s critique of algorithmic attention extraction and his case for reclaiming agency over digital tools make it a timely read. However, those seeking a purely technical history may find its philosophical scope broad.

Key arguments include:

• The internet mirrors premodern systems like Leibniz’s universal computing dreams and organic fungal networks.
• Utopian ideals of democratized knowledge died due to corporate data monetization and social media’s psychological toll.
• Human consciousness and AI development are entangled through the internet’s “training” of neural networks.

Smith compares the internet’s structure to mycorrhizal fungi, which enable tree communication via underground networks. Both systems challenge boundaries between “natural” and “technological,” illustrating how human innovations often mimic biological patterns.

The book examines Leibniz’s 17th-century vision of a computational mathesis universalis, transhumanism’s pitfalls, and the paradox of AI as both a tool and threat. Smith argues that the internet’s evolution reflects enduring tensions between human creativity and mechanistic control.

Smith condemns social media for weaponizing attention, reducing users to data points, and eroding mental focus. He contrasts early internet optimism with platforms that prioritize engagement metrics over meaningful communication, calling this a betrayal of the technology’s original purpose.

The book highlights unexpected precursors like:

• Silk-weaving looms: Early programmable machines inspiring computational logic.
• The printing press: A revolution in information sharing with unintended societal consequences.
• Telecommunication networks: 19th-century telegraphy foreshadowing global connectivity.

While not prescriptive, Smith urges reevaluating humanity’s relationship with technology by reviving ethical frameworks from pre-digital eras. He advocates for systems prioritizing collective flourishing over extractive capitalism, citing Wikipedia’s community-driven model as a rare success.

AI is framed as both an extension of human cognition and a destabilizing force. Smith warns that AI trained on internet data risks amplifying biases and reducing complex thought to predictive algorithms, echoing earlier critiques of mechanized labor.

Some reviewers note Smith’s broad scope may overwhelm readers seeking concrete tech analysis. Others argue his critique of social media is well-trodden, though his historical-philosophical synthesis offers fresh context.

Unlike narrow tech polemics, Smith’s work uniquely ties digital culture to Enlightenment philosophy and biological systems. It complements works like The Age of Surveillance Capitalism but stands out for its interdisciplinary depth and historical framing.

As AI governance and digital privacy debates intensify, Smith’s warnings about attention economies and lost utopian ideals remain urgent. The book’s emphasis on ethical technology aligns with growing movements for decentralized, human-centered digital spaces.