SDF

Martin FORD

AI, in Martin Ford’s assessment, is on the cusp of becoming a general-purpose technology. The impact of AI will be as profound as that of electricity before it, fundamentally changing how every other technology is produced and consumed, while also helping us solve some of our most pressing issues, from the climate crisis to the next pandemic. Yet for all its promise, AI still has the potential to cause serious harm. Avoiding the overzealous enthusiasm and proselyting displayed by some tech leaders, Ford instead offers audiences a practical, clear-headed guide into AI as it currently stands, as well as its future evolution(s). This nuanced, balanced talk explores both the harms and benefits of the technology, but ultimately remains optimistic: revealing how we can embrace artificial intelligence in the twenty-first century with caution and pragmatism.