Although there is plenty of worry about AI, there is also a huge amount of optimism about its near and far potential. The greatest optimism centers around medical breakthroughs with many predictions that almost everyone will live long past 100. Will a worker retire at 80? The most extraordinary optimism is the claim made by Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis in a 60 Minutes interview in 2025 that within a decade there will be no more disease! See
AlphaFold,
superagency and
AI benefits.
The Possibilities
In his 2026 book "Abundance or Collapse," ex-Tesla program manager Farzad Mesbahi says "Think about what becomes possible when you can deploy robots to build housing at a fraction of current costs. When desalination powered by cheap solar can provide water to any region that needs it. When AI tutors can provide personalized education to every child on the planet. When healthcare diagnostics that currently require expensive specialists become available through AI systems."
Just Getting More Work Done
Managers in business and government worldwide are learning to use AI to manage their grunt work. People who embraced AI early on are saving time and money. As sure as computers are here to stay, so is AI. Stay tuned!
Universal Basic Income (UBI) For Everyone!
The most extreme optimists believe that AI will eventually demand a complete restructuring of political thinking as well as the global financial system. For example, if only a fraction of the population needs to work, a minimum income will have to be distributed by each country's government to its citizens; otherwise, what will 80% of the world's population do to survive without jobs? Elon Musk has said UBI, even "high" basic income (HBI) seems inevitable. See
universal high income. Contrast with
AI anxiety.
Work, Don't Work!
There is a theory that only a percentage of any population really wants to work. But if they want to work, they are likely to be good at it. Why not let the people work who want to work and let the rest take up a hobby courtesy of their country's government.