Keep Calm and … Massively Increase Investment in Artificial Intelligence

It makes a lot of sense to think about the potential economic effects of AI. Governments badly need to be considering the impact of AI and automation on jobs, including the safety risks, and thinking hard about how to realize the technology's potential to boost economic productivity. The recommendations of the U.K. report bring to mind the massive commitment China is making in AI (for an in-depth discussion of this, check out our feature "China's AI Awakening"). Other countries--including the U.S.--would be wise to ramp up their own investments if they don't want to get left behind by the boom.