Temporal Compression in AI Ethics

Temporal compression names the structural feature of the AI transition that makes Gentile's preparation-based framework urgent rather than merely useful. Previous technological transitions unfolded over decades, providing time for ethical practices, regulatory frameworks, and professional norms to develop. The printing press took generations to reshape European intellectual life. The industrial revolution unfolded over more than a century. The labor protections that eventually channeled industrial power toward broadly shared prosperity emerged through decades of struggle and institutional innovation. The AI transition compresses this timeline to months. The decision that could have been influenced by a well-timed objection last quarter has already been implemented. The team that could have been preserved with a compelling argument has already been disbanded. The unprepared professional who waits until the moment of decision to formulate her ethical argument will find that the moment has passed before the argument is ready.