A 1956 Science-Fiction Novel Warned That Powerful New Technologies Could Widen the Gap Between Rich and Poor

Alfred Bester's novel "The Stars My Destination," set in the 25th century, imagined a world where everyone could instantly teleport—travel anywhere in the blink of an eye. The technology should have freed people to move about freely. Instead, it did the opposite. The wealthy built homes and fortresses that blocked teleportation, keeping poor people locked out. Money, not ability, determined who could go where.

Worth flagging: Bester's story offers a useful lens for understanding risks we face today with artificial intelligence and genetic engineering. As these technologies move from research labs into real-world use, his core warning remains relevant: transformative breakthroughs often concentrate power in the hands of those who already have it, rather than spreading benefits widely. This matters for anyone—policymakers, business leaders, technologists—who is designing and deploying these tools. The decisions we make now about who gets access and who doesn't could echo for decades.