Over the last couple of years, it has become increasingly clear that many democratic governments have been taking a closer look at artificial intelligence (AI), both from a policy standpoint and as something to help their economies of the future. I specify democratic because of two reasons. First, it's clear that China recognized both the economic power and the population control capabilities of AI much earlier. Democracies have many open issues and can move more slowly, and policy is discussed more widely by the population. Two pieces of news this week have shown the increasing focus on AI in the United States and the European Union (EU).

This month the US President's National Science and Technology Council [NSTC] issued an important report on'Preparing for the Future of Artificial Intelligence'. It is not its final word on the matter - another Report is due on the effect of AI-driven automation on jobs and the economy but the general tone is, as you would expect in a technologically-driven culture, cautiously positive about AI's contribution to economic growth (at least in the US). The undertone though is one of concern about social cohesion and fairness and, above all, about appropriate regulatory regimes. The Report is a good corrective to some of the speculative fantasies about AI. Although nothing is entirely certain in this field, it pushes back AI that matches or exceeds human intelligence beyond the next five Presidential terms.