Reid Hoffman, tech billionaire and co-founder of LinkedIn, has shared his optimistic views on the future of artificial intelligence (AI).
Speaking to The Observer, he said instead of threatening jobs, AI will empower humanity by giving them “cognitive superpowers.” This is the same perspective he shares in his latest book Superagency.
He believes the discourse surrounding AI often takes an unfairly pessimistic tone.
Tech fears often unfounded, says Hoffman
Hoffman admitted that fears of diminished human agency are common whenever revolutionary technologies come into play.
He said such fears are normal. However, he also noted that these fears have been unfounded in the past, with technological advancements ultimately expanding our capabilities.
Hoffman sees the same future for AI, enhancing human agency rather than taking it away.
‘Cognitive Industrial Revolution’ and its challenges
Hoffman admitted that the transition to an AI-driven future wouldn’t be seamless, calling it a turbulent period of change.
He called this shift the “Cognitive Industrial Revolution,” emphasizing both the extraordinary capabilities and heightened influence AI could give humanity, and the challenges that come with this evolution.
He stressed that society could navigate this shift with greater ease and resilience if it adopted a techno-humanist approach.
Embracing AI as the new normal
Hoffman urged professionals to adapt to AI tools, seeing them as the new normal.
He said, “Professionals will need to be using AI tools to do part of their work. If you don’t, you will be under-tooled and won’t be competitive.”
He admitted that while this transition may feel like a loss of agency for some, it would ultimately lead to increased agency for all involved.