AI Superpowers

The complete AI revolution will take a little time and will ultimately wash over us in a series of four waves: internet AI, business AI, perception AI, and autonomous AI.

Internet AI is already here, reshaping our digital experiences through recommendation engines and personalized content. Business AI is optimizing corporate decision-making by mining vast datasets. Perception AI is digitizing our physical world, enabling machines to see, hear, and understand us. Autonomous AI, still in development, promises to revolutionize transportation and manufacturing.

These waves are not discrete; they overlap and reinforce each other:

• Internet AI: Powering platforms like Google, Facebook, and Toutiao

• Business AI: Enhancing financial services, healthcare diagnostics, and legal analysis

• Perception AI: Driving innovations in retail, home automation, and urban management

• Autonomous AI: Transforming industries through self-driving cars, drones, and robotics

Together, these businesses and scholars have turned China into a bona fide AI superpower, the only true national counterweight to the United States in this emerging technology.

Contrasting strengths. The US leads in cutting-edge AI research and attracts global talent, while China excels in AI implementation and data collection. China's advantages include:

• Massive user base generating invaluable data

• Government support and funding for AI initiatives

• Ecosystem of tenacious entrepreneurs and robust manufacturing capabilities

Collaborative potential. Despite the competitive rhetoric, AI development is not a zero-sum game. Both nations can contribute to global AI progress:

• US: Pioneering fundamental AI research and fostering innovation

• China: Rapidly deploying AI solutions and scaling applications

• Potential for cross-border collaborations to tackle global challenges

Within ten to twenty years, I estimate we will be technically capable of automating 40 to 50 percent of jobs in the United States.

Widespread impact. AI-driven automation will affect jobs across the spectrum, from blue-collar to white-collar professions:

• Routine cognitive tasks (e.g., data analysis, basic writing) easily automated

• Physical jobs requiring dexterity and adaptability more resilient in short term

• Creative and emotionally intelligent roles least vulnerable to immediate displacement

Economic consequences:

• Widening income inequality as AI concentrates wealth

• Potential for technological unemployment on an unprecedented scale

• Erosion of the middle class and social instability

For all of AI's astounding capabilities, the one thing that only humans can provide turns out to also be exactly what is most needed in our lives: love.

AI's limitations. Despite its cognitive prowess, AI lacks emotional intelligence and the capacity for genuine human connection. This revelation came to the author through a personal crisis:

• Cancer diagnosis forced reevaluation of life priorities

• Recognition of the irreplaceable value of human relationships and empathy

Redefining human value. As AI takes over many traditional job functions, we must shift our focus:

• From productivity and economic output to compassion and emotional intelligence

• Embracing uniquely human qualities that AI cannot replicate

• Fostering a society that values care, creativity, and interpersonal connections

If we can create this synergy, it will let us harness the undeniable power of artificial intelligence to generate prosperity while also embracing our essential humanity.

Collaborative model. The future of work lies in human-AI partnerships, not competition:

• AI handles routine, data-driven tasks

• Humans focus on empathy, creativity, and complex problem-solving

Emerging opportunities:

• Healthcare: AI-powered diagnostics paired with compassionate caregivers

• Education: Personalized AI learning tools complemented by empathetic human teachers

• Customer service: AI handling inquiries, humans providing emotional support

Cultural shift required:

• Moving beyond viewing humans as mere economic units

• Valuing and rewarding social and emotional intelligence

• Fostering lifelong learning and adaptability in the workforce

I propose we explore the creation not of a UBI but of what I call a social investment stipend.

Beyond UBI. The author proposes a more nuanced approach to addressing AI-induced job displacement:

• Government salary for socially beneficial activities

• Focus on care work, community service, and education

• Rewards prosocial behavior while providing economic security

Implementation challenges:

• Defining eligible activities and performance metrics

• Balancing freedom of choice with social benefit

• Securing funding through taxation of AI-generated wealth

Potential benefits:

• Preserves human dignity and sense of purpose

• Fosters a more compassionate and interconnected society

• Provides economic stability while encouraging social contribution

No single country will have all the answers to the tangled web of issues we face, but if we draw on diverse sources of wisdom, I believe there is no problem that we can't tackle together.

Diverse perspectives. Different cultures and societies offer unique insights for navigating the AI revolution:

• South Korea: Gifted education programs for nurturing top talent

• Switzerland and Japan: Craftsmanship culture valuing human artistry

• Canada and Netherlands: Robust volunteering traditions

• Bhutan: Alternative measures of progress like Gross National Happiness

Policy experimentation. Countries are taking varied approaches to AI governance:

• Europe: Stringent data protection and antitrust measures

• US and China: More laissez-faire approach to foster innovation

• Opportunity to learn from diverse regulatory frameworks

Collaborative imperative. The global nature of AI's impact necessitates international cooperation:

• Sharing best practices in education and workforce development

• Coordinating on ethical AI development and deployment

• Addressing shared challenges like job displacement and inequality

Human agency is crucial in shaping our AI future. By embracing diverse perspectives and fostering global collaboration, we can harness AI's potential while preserving our humanity.