Robotics, Artificial Intelligence Could Transform Society, But at What Cost?

Some of the world's wealthiest and most influential leaders came to California this week for the Milken Institute Global Conference, a wide-ranging review of issues permeating economics and politics, with topics ranging from agriculture to mortgage markets to international trade and alliances, plus a long look at what the future will hold. Of the 4,000 VIPs who attended -- invitations are highly selective, and tickets topped out as high as $50,000 -- one of the most intriguing questions under discussion was one that almost no one could readily answer: What effect will robotics and artificial intelligence have on our lives and on the world's business, and how rapidly will this next technological revolution take place? The Milken Institute Global Conference, an annual event for the past 20 years, has grown steadily into a unique gathering: individuals with the capital, power and influence to move the world forward meet face-to-face with those whose expertise and creativity are reinventing industry, philanthropy and media. This year's meeting in Beverly Hills, California, amounted to a peer review of President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. Four members of Trump's Cabinet took part.