The Last Invention Ezra Klein on the Uncertain Politics of A.I.
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Dec 19, 2025 
Ezra Klein, a New York Times opinion columnist and author of "Abundance," dives deep into the A.I. landscape. He discusses the crucial role of government in regulating emerging technologies and the urgent need to address immediate societal risks over abstract fears of existential doom. Klein warns about A.I.'s potential to disrupt labor markets and dehumanize personal relationships. He also critiques the contrast between technocratic optimism and the reality of political challenges, drawing parallels with nuclear regulation and highlighting the division in political responses to A.I.
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AI Has Already Reconfigured Society
- Ezra Klein believes AI has already changed society and will be far more intimate than prior tech revolutions.
- He argues AI will become a companion-like environment woven into daily life, not just a tool.
Focus On Nearer-Term Societal Risks
- Klein takes existential risk seriously but prioritizes nearer-term societal risks over fast-takeoff doom scenarios.
- He warns gradual outsourcing of autonomy could dehumanize society even without outright extinction.
Build Early Detection And Red Teams
- Establish detection, red‑teaming, and oversight mechanisms to test AI capabilities and visibility in labs.
- Build early-warning systems so society can at least know what's happening inside powerful AI development.