Opinion | AI and the ‘Dangers of Electric Lighting’

Peter C. Earle

Thomas Edison published an article in the North American Review in November 1889 with the headline “The Dangers of Electric Lighting.”

New York’s hurried electrification had filled its streets with overhead wires, uneven installation and high-voltage lines that could kill people. Safety had become a concern, and Edison argued that high-tension currents, particularly alternating current, posed an unacceptable danger.

Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Appeared in the September 24, 2026, print edition as 'AI and the ‘Dangers of Electric Lighting’'.