ABSTRACT
In the future, new technologies may help us defeat the costs of complexity. Steve Jobs invented brilliantly simple computers and made his iPhones our indispensable companions. Elon Musk wants us all to drive the simplest of vehicles, a maintenance and pollution free electric car. Then he will take us to Mars. Distributed energy, such as solar panels on our rooftops, can reduce our reliance on complex and expensive power distribution networks. ETFs and virtual money may force Wall Street to simplify what it does. Even artificial intelligence and robots – by themselves very complicated – can make our lives simpler if we know how to adjust to the social disruptions they may cause. This is a huge challenge, but there is no other country on earth that is dedicating so much thought to a future where artificial intelligence and robots perform a lot of our work. President Obama invested a lot of his time in office with the technology titans of our age to think ahead about an increasingly automated future. This dialogue will continue, with many American companies, states, and constituencies leading the way. We do need to be careful, though: technology can be a double-edged sword, and if poorly harnessed can exacerbate our problems. Some Silicon Valley luminaries worry that artificial intelligence and automation will cause tens of millions to lose their jobs. Clearly, changes are needed to anticipate a future that is coming today. If directed successfully, though, technology can help us solve planetary problems such as climate change, food security, access to clean water, sanitation, and health for all.
