In a recent guest essay published in The New York Times, Paul Kedrosky, a venture capitalist and MIT fellow, discussed the growing pessimism surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) in the United States. He argued that this sentiment is not rooted in cultural factors or misinformation, but rather in the labor market institutions that shape the American workforce. Concurrently, Nobel laureate Paul Krugman published a piece on his Substack, asserting that the backlash against AI is not merely a normal skepticism about technological change, but a unique and intense reaction to the industry's actions. He emphasized that the industry had previously warned of the potential devastation caused by AI, which inadvertently led to public concern and backlash. This sentiment was echoed in a report by Goldman Sachs economist Joseph Briggs, who estimated that up to 15 million American workers could be displaced due to AI advancements, particularly affecting routine white-collar jobs. The perception problem faced by the AI industry is significant and cannot be resolved through improved messaging alone. Krugman pointed out that other countries, such as Norway, France, and Germany, have more supportive labor market policies that provide financial assistance to workers who lose their jobs. In contrast, the American system often leaves individuals without income or health coverage, exacerbating fears surrounding job loss. The Silicon Valley attitude, which prioritizes technological advancement over human concerns, has contributed to the industry's struggles in addressing public fears. Kedrosky concluded that even if AI companies adopt a more people-centric approach, it may not be sufficient to address the underlying issues that fuel public anxiety about AI's impact on jobs and livelihoods.
"The big LLMs have lost the PR battle," Cuban said. "Why? Because they all suck at putting people first."
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