#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #government #RegulatingAI #progress #jobs #LostJobs
Talk about push and pull?
Technology, particularly artificial intelligence, is advancing quickly.
Government, which is trying to figure out how to manage the AI onslaught, moves slowly.
CNN commentator Fareed Zakaria discussed this on his “GPS” show July 26, 2026.
His commentary begs many questions, including: Do people want AI to advance quickly? Do people want government to act more quickly to mitigate its bad effects or to regulate it? Would government be able to move that quickly?
Many candidates for public office want to make government more efficient. They don’t want it to stand in the way of the progress AI is making.
People, who don’t seem to like anyone in government, are still in the dark about what AI will do to their lives, their jobs, their creativity etc.
They are not sure whether they want government to slow or help advance the progress of AI and related technology.
So, what’s a person running for office to do or say to those still unsure whether they want AI to move more quickly, or slow it down?
It’s a dilemma for those candidates, but they would be wise to figure out what they can and cannot do as part of government.
It’s clear the technology will advance at its own pace. It’s not clear what that will mean, and what can be done to mitigate its ill effects on people. Almost everyone presumes that some jobs will go away, while others will be created. How individuals navigate that landscape in the job market is not something government can really control.
Government can help find ways for people to cope with the effects of AI. Government can pass laws that will govern how best AI can be productive, while minimizing any ill effects.
One might compare AI to a fast-moving car, and government to potholes. But, it might be better to compare AI to a tractor-trailer and government to a speed governor inside the vehicle.
Some of today’s public officials want to harken back to yesteryear, when things were “good” for many people. But, during those “good” times, many people suffered. Therefore, some politicians today seem to be choosing sides, fighting for some people but ignoring, even hurting, others.
Some even go so far as to fight for those who already have good, prosperous lives, and ignoring or hurting the rest of the population.
In a few years, when more AI advances are prevalent, who will be the prosperous ones? Who will be left behind?
None of us knows now. But, what is known is that AI is moving quickly. Government can do little, if anything, to stop it. People, in general, can do little to stop it.
So, both government and people have to deal with results. How they do will make all the difference in who prospers and who doesn’t.
Some may advise people to strap in and ride the tide. But, better advice might be to surf the tide. You could wipe out, but you also could find a beach on the other end.
Peter