307. The world’s most influential economist: how we can deliver "worker-friendly AI"

Nobel Prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu challenges the prevailing belief that AI-driven job displacement is an inevitable consequence of technological progress. Instead of pursuing artificial general intelligence that renders humans dispensable, society must steer AI development toward complementing human labor and expanding worker capabilities. This pro-worker approach preserves the dignity derived from meaningful contribution, which is essential for maintaining social stability and liberal democracy. While universal basic income offers a necessary safety net, it fails to address the fundamental human need for purpose. Furthermore, AI should function as a tool for educators and professionals to solve complex problems rather than a shortcut that degrades cognitive effort. Even in the face of global birth rate declines, labor scarcity can foster positive investment and wage growth if technology is deployed to enhance, rather than replace, the human workforce.