“The rapid proliferation of AI is likely to create significant changes in individuals’ daily lives and in society’s social, economic and political systems. By 2040, we will see AI-powered technologies integrated into all aspects of our lives, from our homes and workplaces to our transportation systems, economy, social lives, tourism and healthcare systems.
“The following potential gains and losses can be expected by 2040:
- “Increased industrial productivity and economic growth: AI will automate many production tasks currently performed by humans, freeing up people to focus on more creative and strategic work. This could lead to significant increases in productivity and economic growth.
- “Improved healthcare and education: AI will be used to develop new medical treatments and diagnostic tools that will make medical treatment easier and more effective. 3D and 4D printing will be used to manufacture and synthesize medical body parts. The personalization of education will be seamless for each student. This could lead to significant improvements in healthcare and education outcomes.
- “New forms of entertainment and recreation: AI will help create new and immersive forms of entertainment and recreation. This will lead to new ways for people to relax and socialize. This will include a lot of games in the metaverse, using extended-reality (XR) tools. There will be both immersive and generative-AI entertainment.
- “New social and economic challenges: AI is likely to lead to some job displacement and losses, however, these can be overcome by continuous education and the creation of new job roles. A second primary concern is the use of more-sophisticated autonomous warfare weaponry and ammunition systems and other deployment of AI in warfare. A third concern is AI’s deepening of more-comprehensive surveillance that will further erode privacy. A fourth concern is the polarization of society due to uses of social media to manipulate and divide people; more attacks between people of opposite thoughts will be a serious problem. This bad side of digital life has been evident the past decade or so, playing role in the erosion of democracy and human rights in many places in the world.
“It is important for people worldwide to start finding ways to harmonize and work together toward the responsible use of AI. If it is used ethically, AI will be launched into action to further improve the quality of life for people worldwide. It will be used to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as climate change, poverty and disease.
“It is vital to identify the potential risks associated with AI now and to take steps to mitigate these risks to ensure that it is responsibly developed and used in a way that benefits all of humanity. We need to assure that AI systems are transparent and accountable and that they are used to promote human rights and well-being.
“It is important for people worldwide to start finding ways to harmonize and work together toward the responsible use of AI. If it is used ethically, AI will be launched into action to further improve the quality of life for people worldwide. It will be used to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, such as climate change, poverty and disease.”
This essay was written in November 2023 in reply to the question: Considering likely changes due to the proliferation of AI in individuals’ lives and in social, economic and political systems, how will life have changed by 2040? This and more than 150 additional essay responses are included in the report “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence by 2040”