Offline with Jon Favreau A Techno-Optimist’s Case for AI
37 snips
Dec 6, 2025 
Noah Smith, a techno-optimist economist and author of the Noahpinion Substack, dives deep into the promise of AI and its societal impacts. He compares fears surrounding AI to historical tech disruptions, discussing job displacement scenarios and the need for policies to support workers. The conversation touches on AI’s potential to transform education through personalized tutors and its role in moderating social media. They also explore the nuances of liberal nationalism and its importance for progressives in today’s polarized landscape.
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Historical Lens On Technological Disruption
- Noah Smith argues most technologies caused disruption but society adapted over time, often imperfectly.
- He urges critics to specify what 'being prepared' for AI would concretely look like.
Clarify What 'Job Loss' Means
- Noah distinguishes job displacement from human obsolescence using past industrial shifts.
- He asks critics to clarify whether AI will displace jobs or render humans useless altogether.
Prioritize Job-Finding Over Training
- Implement active job-finding assistance like Denmark's Flexicurity instead of only training programs.
- Provide government-supported recruiters to quickly place displaced workers into new roles.
