Part 4/11:
Both experts agree that AI represents a general-purpose technology, akin to electricity or the steam engine, which has historically displaced physical labor and transformed industries. The concern now is that AI targets cognitive skills, challenging the very qualities that have traditionally set humans apart, such as reasoning, creativity, and adaptability.
Betsy compares AI's potential impact to historical shifts—such as the move from agricultural work to manufacturing—where transition periods caused disruption but eventually led to new opportunities. She emphasizes that, unlike past technological revolutions, AI's ability to replace tasks across sectors signals a fundamental change with potentially profound societal implications.