Chapter 14: The Economic Singularity: AI, Labor, and the Future of Society

This chapter explores the concept of the “Economic Singularity,” a potential future where AI and automation advance to the point of making a significant portion of the human workforce permanently unemployable. Distinct from a technological singularity of superintelligence, this economic event poses fundamental challenges to our societal structure. The chapter analyzes the immense risks, including economic collapse due to a lack of consumer demand, extreme wealth inequality, and a profound crisis of meaning for humanity in a “post-work” world. It considers various future scenarios and potential policy responses like Universal Basic Income (UBI). Ultimately, the discussion is framed by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, which uphold the inherent dignity of work as a form of human fulfillment and participation in creation. The chapter calls for an economic vision where technological progress serves integral human development and the common good, ensuring a just and humane future for all.


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