Future of Life Institute Podcast Preparing for an AI Economy (with Daniel Susskind)
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Jun 27, 2025 Daniel Susskind, an economist and author, sheds light on the intersection of AI and the economy. He dives into the clash between AI researchers and economists over measuring AI's impact and how it can be steered positively. Susskind discusses the types of meaningful work that will remain for humans and questions the role of commercial incentives in AI development. He also emphasizes the evolving landscape of education, arguing for a curriculum that prioritizes adaptability and critical skills in the face of rapid technological change.
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AI's Dual Impact on Labor
- Economists underestimated AI's capability to perform non-routine tasks like creativity and empathy.
- Computer scientists initially overlooked AI's dual effect on labor: substituting and complementing human work.
AI's Economic Impact and Productivity
- There is a lag between AI invention and its economic integration, causing the productivity paradox.
- Productivity growth remains the key measure of technological economic impact.
Steering AI Towards Complementing Labor
- We can steer AI development to complement human workers rather than replace them.
- Changing incentives like tax rates could encourage technologies that augment rather than substitute labor.