Remember this?

That’s the steam engine. To us today, it may seem like an ancient invention, but in the late 1700s, it did more than just blow steam; it also blew people's minds.

For the first time, it provided a significant shift (and societal disruption) in the way humans lived their lives: the shift from human and animal power to machine power.

In fact, it had such an impact that it is considered the first Industrial Revolution.

Hmm, words like “significant shift” and “machine power”….kind of sound familiar to what’s going on today with AI, no?

Well, I’m here to tell you that this is no coincidence. It’s a pattern.

Just like how steam power transformed how people worked and moved during the First Industrial Revolution, AI is now transforming how we think and create today.

So today, we’re going to switch gears a bit.

Instead of just talking about AI / ML, I want to show you why it’s the next big revolution — and why you need to hop aboard before the train leaves the station.

First of all, what makes something qualify as an Industrial Revolution?

I mean, as many cool inventions as there are, it seems to earn the title of “revolution,” it needs to be exceptionally badass, doesn’t it? (Sorry, fidget spinners, as hype as you were, hardly anyone mentions you now.)

Well, one pattern you’re about to see in all the following revolutions (yes, there’s more than one) is that each satisfies the following criteria:

With this criterion in mind, let’s explore each revolution and why AI qualifies as the fourth.

Power Source: Steam 🔥

This era really kicked off when inventors realized that steam engines could do more work than entire teams of humans or horses. It transformed farms into factories, gave birth to trains, and basically turned coal into the VIP of the century.

Power Source: Electricity ⚡

This is really the “Let there be light” era. With the integration of electricity, factories get smarter, cities are lit, and communication speeds up.

Power Source: Computers & Internet 💾

This is the moment humanity went digital. Computers, satellites, and early robots began taking over repetitive tasks. Suddenly, things were automated, and information could travel globally in seconds. Also, “turn it off and back on again” became a global problem solver.

As we can see above, every industrial revolution had a power source. Steam gave power to machines, electricity enabled mass production, and computers brought in the digital age.

They all satisfied the qualities of an industrial revolution I described above. So the big question is…

Does AI match those criteria as well? Well, let’s go through the list:

Massive Technological Leap: A no-brainer. An industrial revolution begins when technology leaps so big, it rewrites the rules — AI has done exactly that.

Global Economic & Social Transformation: AI’s impact isn’t confined to Silicon Valley — it’s reshaping economies, jobs, and daily life across the planet. Tasks that once took hours, or even weeks, now take seconds. Tech giants have spent more on AI than the US government has on education, jobs and social services in 2025 alone.

Chain Reaction of Innovation: Every revolution sparks dozens of others. AI is now the catalyst behind countless breakthroughs. It fuels robotics, biotech, and automation. Hell, it even includes space exploration.

Long Term Irreversible Change: There’s no going back (cue dramatic music). A pattern we can see through each revolution, is that once technology changes how humanity functions, we don’t unlearn it.

As you can see, AI doesn’t just meet the criteria of an industrial revolution — it defines them for this century.

In every industrial revolution, there were people (often a lot of them) who resisted the change. And honestly, who can blame them! I’m sure you’ve heard the doom and gloom threat of AI taking all of our jobs.

But also, in every revolution, there are those who decide to work with the shift, rather than against it.

And in my opinion, this is the smart move. Change can be uncomfortable, but it’s important to see the new roles, industries, and opportunities that emerge with it.

So rather than standing on the platform watching the train go by, hop aboard! Learn it, explore it, integrate it — because the best way to stay ahead is to ride alongside innovation, not wave nervously as it passes.

And hey, by subscribing to my newsletter… you’ve already made the smart move. 😉