Navigating the evolving relationship between workers and AI

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has raised concerns about whether technological innovations will lead to broad gains for everyone or just a select few. Economists Simon Johnson and Daron Acemoglu, co-authors of the book "Power and Progress," argue that throughout history, technological progress has not always translated into shared prosperity. While AI has the potential to make workers safer and more productive, it also poses a threat to jobs and could further hollow out the middle class. The authors emphasize the importance of labor organizations in ensuring that everyone benefits from productivity gains. However, since the 1980s, automation has outpaced the creation of shared prosperity jobs, leading to income and wage inequality. The arrival of AI could either rebuild the middle class or exacerbate its decline, depending on how it is implemented.