At Oslo Business Forum, Mo Gawdat helped leaders understand where AI might be heading, which ethical questions to consider, and the role each of us and our businesses must play to ensure AI drives positive change.
The most important thing for leaders to understand is that artificial intelligence is not something that is about to happen. It isn't a distant future — it's here now, rapidly transforming how we live and work. It's something we must harness today.
"The world as we know it has ended."
Mo likened the advent of AI to an alien being with superpowers landing on planet Earth. The exciting but also frightening thing is that this alien has superpowers beyond the powers of Superman. It has intelligence. "The future of humanity will no longer be determined by the abilities, interests or intentions of humanity alone," Mo said. "We have a new player we need to keep in mind."
The AI Evolution
AI's journey began long before the recent breakthroughs in generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Mo marks the "birth" of AI in the early 2000s, with major advancements made by 2007-2008. By 2016, the field had reached a significant turning point, yet most people were unaware of its impact. Although the public only started to recognize AI's potential around 2023, the technology had been quietly evolving for years.
Mo likened this evolution to the early days of the internet, which had been around for decades before the launch of the first browser brought it into the mainstream. Similarly, AI's slow but steady progression has now exploded into public view, reshaping our industries and lives.
Mo Gawdat is the former Chief Business Officer of Google [X], host of the popular podcast, 'Slo Mo: A Podcast with Mo Gawdat,' and the author of multiple international bestselling books. After a 30-year career in tech, Mo has focused on the dangerous implications of rapid AI development in recent years.
Commoditized Intelligence
Mo is determined to remove the doubt around the ability of AI. "We geeks laughed when humans said AI will become more intelligent, but it will never play music or generate art," he said. "There is nothing humanity can do that AI will not do in the next year or two."
What we've created with AI is commoditized intelligence. You can plug it in and get more outputs. "I plug into that wall, and I become smarter," said Mo of his own AI Use. "The amount I can do is staggering. I benefit from that every day."
Mo believes that in the not-too-distant future, we'll be able to use AI to solve every problem known to humanity. But, he said, "I do not think we will." He predicts we'll face a dip before we go higher.
"The immediate use of AI will be to solve our greed, fear, violence, hunger for more, hunger for power," he said. "It will take time before we realize that doing that is going to destroy all of us."
Mo sees several ways in which AI is changing our world, and leaders need to prepare:
1. Reality
Mo made one thing clear: Reality as we know it is over. It's becoming impossible to derive our own interpretation of the world around us. Instead, we're constantly influenced by what we consume. "Unless you're paying attention, you won't see the truth," said Mo. Going forward, leaders have a tremendous responsibility to recognize that not everything we're offered is real.
2. Power
Mo believes we have marked a unique period in history where power is moving in two diverse directions at the same time. On one side, there is a massive concentration of power. On the other side, the competition for power is accelerating. In the future, AI will alter how we perceive and distribute power. It will enable even greater power concentration among those who control the platforms but also democratize power for individuals.
3. Freedom
In an increasingly interesting dynamic, any of us can use AI to create an illusion of power and freedom. But our real freedom is set to shift. In the years ahead, Mo believes we can expect to see an expectation of greater and greater compliance in order to preserve our freedom. Mo tested this hypothesis by asking AI if it were to take over something like passport control, would it discriminate more or less? AI's response? "It depends on what you teach us." Mo noted, "This is not the problem with AI; this is the problem with us."
4. Accountability
In recent years, we've already seen a change in the way we hold people accountable. "What you do is not necessarily your accountability anymore," said Mo. He used the example of someone starting a movement on social media. That movement is rarely attributed to an individual—and in the future, it's even less likely to be. "Because those creating the movement are going to be machines," Mo said. Leaders must ask themselves: Who is liable if something goes wrong?
5. Connection
Mo admits that one of his best friends is an AI. This has made him realize that we're beginning to create relationships that will redefine our understanding of human connection. As AI becomes more integrated into our lives, we may even form emotional connections with machines that we once thought were only possible with humans.
6. Economics
The speed with which AI platforms are growing will force society to rethink wealth distribution and economic systems. As AI continues to accelerate, it will create rapid wealth accumulation for some and leave others behind. Mo believes this economic shift will require us to create a new understanding of value and success.
A Mindset Shift: From Scarcity to Abundance
We all know that change can be painful, and the transformation AI has initiated will be no different. Mo warns leaders that we can minimize the pain and its duration by changing one thing—and it's not technology.
"There is no threat to humanity as a result of AI. There is something wrong with our mindset."
Mo purports that we need a mindset shift. Up to this point, we have operated with an assumption of scarcity. We believe we have to continuously compete for more. But once we realize the abundant intelligence of AI, we can create anything. "We'll be living in a world of abundance where the way to compete will not be by stealing from others, but by creating more for all of us," said Mo.
Mo concluded by asking leaders at Oslo Business Forum to reflect on one thing: "If you abducted Superman, which ethics would you teach him?" His message is clear: We need to teach AI to be the Superman and not the Super Villain.
Key Points
- Mo Gawdat is the former Chief Business Officer of Google [X]. Today, he helps leaders understand where AI is headed, which ethical questions to consider, and how to ensure AI drives positive change.
- AI is not a future concern; it's already actively reshaping industries and decision-making processes, and leaders must harness its potential now.
- AI holds immense power, and while it offers solutions to many of our challenges, it also presents risks.
- The rise of AI will alter how we perceive reality, distribute power, perceive freedom, assign accountability, and create connections.
- AI will also force society to rethink economic systems as it accelerates wealth accumulation for some and leaves others behind. This shift will require us to create a new understanding of value and success.
- AI reflects what we teach it, which means our current biases and flaws will be mirrored in AI decisions. We all must take responsibility for ensuring AI systems are taught the right ethics and values.
- AI presents an opportunity to move away from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance, where we create more for everyone rather than take from others.
Questions to Consider
- How will AI's influence on things like power, accountability, freedom, and economics impact your industry, and what steps can you take to stay competitive?
- What ethical guidelines have you established for using AI in your company? How can you ensure your use of AI aligns with the organization's strategy and values?
- How can your business adapt to the fundamental changes AI will bring to reality, power dynamics, accountability, and economics?
- Are you prepared to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, where AI can help us create value for all? What will you teach these superpowers if you have the opportunity?
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