The kind of AI we actually need | Van Jones

The "adaptation gap"—the dangerous disparity between exponential technological growth and the linear pace of human evolution—threatens to trigger mass social unrest and widespread humiliation. To prevent a future where heartless algorithms dominate, society must move beyond legislative attempts to decelerate technology and instead accelerate humanity through "ancestral intelligence." This requires a new social contract between big tech and grassroots communities, replacing the current focus on "greed and speed" with "sharing and caring." By pairing engineers with those closest to real-world problems—such as initiatives focused on prison record expungement, social worker support, and AI literacy—we can ensure that technological progress fosters human flourishing. Ultimately, integrating ancient wisdom with modern innovation creates a more equitable path forward, transforming today’s breakthroughs into the foundational knowledge for future generations.