The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act in the House includes a hidden provision barring states from enacting any A. I. regulations for the next ten years. Coupled with the White House’s close ties to key A. I. figures like Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman—and the ongoing absence of comprehensive federal A. I. laws—the industry is poised for unchecked growth in a regulatory void. This is concerning as generative A. I. is set to disrupt the economy profoundly; a World Economic Forum poll found 40 percent of global employers plan to reduce their workforce through A. I. automation. Today at 12:30 p. m. Eastern, a live discussion with journalist and author Karen Hao will take place on her book *Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI*. The book examines how the quest for artificial intelligence has dominated Silicon Valley, reshaped work and lives worldwide, and explores future implications and solutions. Prior conversations with Hao, activist Sneha Revanur, author R. O. Kwon, and technologist Catherine Bracy delve into venture capitalism’s role in shaping tech innovation and the socio-economic future. On the economic front, A. I. ’s impact on labor is immense and potentially disastrous. It represents a far greater threat than the gig economy, which already transformed workers into independent contractors. There is a troubling underestimation of A. I. ’s risks among responsible tech policy advocates; some dismiss A. I. as vaporware, but its current form is already harming jobs, lowering wages, and surveilling workers. Many companies hesitate to adopt A. I. mainly due to resistance to change, but economic downturns and job cuts will likely accelerate A. I.

adoption, worsening conditions for workers. Examples like CVS reveal how firms use automation and apps requiring facial recognition, prioritizing cost-cutting over customer experience—in fact, even when A. I. isn't as good as humans, companies push for replacements. Retailers also exploit these systems for dynamic pricing, charging more based on consumer data, such as a tired parent buying diapers late at night, raising ethical concerns about exploitation. Karen Hao expresses a cautious pessimism—not because A. I. will become sentient and dominate, but due to corporate practices prioritizing profit over social good. Sam Altman and others envision transformative A. I. products, but currently, the industry focuses mainly on automating work—not consumer subscriptions like ChatGPT. This automation-centric business model risks worsening inequality and harms both workers and the environment, as A. I. ’s heavy energy demands fuel climate issues. The core problem lies in how investment incentives drive A. I. toward exploitative applications rather than societal benefit. For instance, Hao urges changing investor dynamics to redirect A. I. development toward solving real problems like diseases. Altman himself once stated OpenAI shouldn’t operate as a for-profit influenced by investors, but current trends contradict that vision, which Hao finds alarming. In summary, while A. I. holds potential for remarkable innovations, the current trajectory—marked by minimal regulation, profit-driven automation, and data exploitation—threatens workers, consumers, and the planet. Public discourse, regulatory frameworks, and investment philosophies must urgently evolve to steer A. I. toward equitable and sustainable outcomes. --- Upcoming live conversations include Karen Hao’s discussion on May 27 at 12:30 p. m. Eastern, The Ink Book Club on May 28, and messaging expert Anat Shenker-Osorio on May 29. Viewers can watch live via the Substack app or the homepage, with subscriptions offering full access and interactive chat.