Why We Fear Artificial Intelligence

Managing Its Impact on Social Interactions, the Economy, Employment, and Our Democracies

There is widespread concern about how artificial intelligence might affect our lives—changing social interactions, the economy, jobs, health, information, and the functioning of our democracies. Leading scientists have called for a six-month pause on its development to better understand the path we are on. But technological progress isn’t something we should just passively witness. We have the power to shape and guide it. In this issue, we present ideas on how and where to take action to ensure artificial intelligence complements human work and improves well-being, this time without harming those with lower incomes.