Nobel laureate author of 'Why Nations Fail' warns U.S. democracy won't survive the AI jobpocalypse
Fortune • • business
Key Points:
- MIT economist Daron Acemoglu, Nobel laureate in economics, emphasizes that political and economic institutions are key to national prosperity, warning that U.S. democracy faces decline due to rising inequality and job destruction linked to AI.
- Acemoglu highlights the dangers of AI-driven job displacement exacerbating wealth inequality, advocating for measures like wealth taxes and inclusive growth policies to ensure workers across skill levels benefit from economic progress.
- He criticizes the current focus on developing artificial general intelligence, arguing it risks severe social consequences, and calls for a "pro-worker" AI approach that complements rather than replaces human labor.
- Contrasting views come from AI proponents like Adam Thierer, who believe technological innovation historically creates new job opportunities and warn that heavy
