Economist: the end of work is the least concerning AI scenario
paulnovosad · x · 2026-11-15
Economist Paul Novosad argues that among all possible AI futures, "the end of work" is the least concerning one.
His case: people will find meaning even if AI beats them at everything — we already enjoy plenty of things AI does better than us. He cites the sci-fi novel Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, where reputation (aka likes) is the only currency in a post-scarcity society, arguing that even amid abundance, people will keep doing things that please others and raise their status.
A notably optimistic take on AI's social impact, pushing back against prevailing employment-anxiety narratives.
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