You're comparing with 100 years ago. The OP is comparing with 25 years ago, where we are seeing significant regression (as you also pointed out), and the trend

You're comparing with 100 years ago. The OP is comparing with 25 years ago, where we are seeing significant regression (as you also pointed out), and the trend forward is increasingly regressive. We can spend $T to shove ultimately ad-based AI down everyone's throats but we can't spend $T to improve everyone's lives.