"A.I. and Our Economic Future," Professor Chad Jones

AI serves as a transformative force for economic growth, yet its trajectory remains constrained by "weak links"—essential, non-automated tasks that bottleneck overall productivity. Historical patterns demonstrate that even revolutionary technologies like electricity and the internet maintained a steady 2% growth rate, as the economy requires decades to reorganize around new innovations. While AI holds the potential for explosive growth, the "weak link" framework suggests a more gradual acceleration, as automation must systematically replace these persistent constraints. Beyond productivity, AI introduces significant risks, including the potential for bad actors to exploit advanced models and the challenge of maintaining control over entities with superior cognitive capabilities. Preparing for these shifts requires addressing labor market inequality and catastrophic risks, even as the world moves toward a potential era of abundance.