Yuval Noah Harari

Paying people not to work will only increase inequality and rancor. [...] If universal basic income is aimed to improve the objective conditions of the average person in 2050, it has a fair chance of succeeding. But if it is aimed to make people subjectively more satisfied with their lot in order to prevent social discontent, it is likely to fail. (source)

As we increasingly integrate artificial intelligence into our economies, we must anticipate significant disruptions in the job market. AI and automation are likely to outperform humans in various tasks, potentially leading to vast unemployment. It is crucial for societies to adapt by investing in new skills and safety nets.

As a historian, I see the potential for elective gene therapy and brain-computer implants to dramatically enhance human intelligence. While these technologies pose ethical and societal challenges, they also offer unprecedented opportunities to understand and address complex global issues. We must cautiously navigate this path, ensuring that access is equitable and the risks are well-managed.