We Need To Deal With Artificial Intelligence
If we do not, it will likely ruin our society but not for the reasons you think
We live in a time where “kicking the can down the road” is a real strategy. We do not deal with issues until they become huge problems and will take tons of effort an money to solve. Want an example? Just look at Social Security which will become insolvent by 2033 or earlier.
Unfortunately, artificial intelligence (AI) is not something that will allow such a strategy to work let alone succeed.
In 2020, Yang was seen as an alarmist and the little boy crying wolf. However, five years later and many rapid iterations of AI versions and now the public are coming to the realization that AI could likely be as bad or even worse than the people sounding the alarm. Yang and others have been telling us about the following all due ro AI.
Massive Job Losses: Automation and AI will make millions of jobs obsolete across various sectors like transportation, retail, manufacturing, and even professional services like law and accounting. At the worst, a McKinsey report projects that up to 800 million workers could be displaced globally by AI. While slightly better, a Goldman Sachs report suggests AI could replace the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs.
Societal Unpreparedness: The United States and global institutions are not doing enough to prepare for the speed and scale of this disruption. We have seen this in 2025 as new college graduates are finding it harder to find entry level jobs due to AI.
Erosion of Trust and Truth: Beyond the economic impact, Yang has also raised concerns about AI’s potential to cause an “erosion of trust and truth” through mass identity theft, sophisticated spoofing (e.g., voice cloning of loved ones), and the potential for unwarranted military conflict. What was once science fiction is now science fact.
Growing Inequality: AI is a major driver of increasing income inequality, creating a ever growing gap between the rich and poor, which historically destabilizes societies.
Need for Policy Solutions: The only policy consideration at the moment in the United States is the proposed banning of State AI laws by the Trump Administration. The EU is doing better with legislation but it is moving slowly. To mitigate AI’s negative effects on society, Yang has advocated for a new social contract and policies designed to provide financial stability, primarily through a Universal Basic Income (UBI) funded by a value-added tax on tech giants. He has argued UBI is essential for capitalism to continue in an age of AI.
The year 2030 is just around the corner and here we sit on our hands doing nothing about AI. The 2026 mid-terms need to bring AI front and center for discussion. Yes, it is the economy stupid BUT … if we think the economy is bad now, imagine it with 10% to 20% of Americans unemployed and rising rapidly with no chance of finding employment. We need to act now before things get dire.