So, my family is pretty wide-ranging. When we all got together for a BBQ, the talk turned to AI. Everyone was concerned about AI effect on their jobs and society in general. The discussion of AI was quite interesting.
Here at Blackeconomics.com, we read about AI and use three of the free models: Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, plus NotebookNLM. We also talk to a lot of people about AI, but mostly try to listen.
We are at a real turning point.
BlackEconomics.com is firmly in the AI backlash camp. We believe AI will help define what makes people human. But without active guardrails, AI will massively destroy jobs, weaken human thinking, and ultimately challenge our way of life. Almost everyone knows this, but we are stuck on what to do next.
With active political engagement, we believe that we will see more job protections, a return to basic education without AI, increased community participation, and a general rejection of screens. We will see a flourishing of the arts. There will be huge growth in books, art shows, outdoor activities, sporting events, and live music.
If we get it right, we can prevent a lot of damage. We see very little upside. AI is both a tool and AI is also the name of a new industrial era. AI can solve problems humans cannot, such as mathematical proofs. And it can increase productivity in areas such as medical diagnosis, legal affairs, corporate workflows, and specific areas such as cancer research (see below). However, it can also do a lot of damage. It can create autonomous weapons (China threat), confound current cyber security processes and replace human interactions.
AI will accelerate the K-shaped economy
For many, wages have not improved since the 1980s. This is called the K-shaped economy, with the rich getting richer and the poor losing out. Prominent economists like Peter Atwater (Bloomberg) have long discussed inequality in the economy. AI has the potential to accelerate this trend. In the interview, Atwater notes that the incomes of the top 1% are accelerating.
The American people are not dumb. They realize that for many, society is zero-sum: when someone else wins, I lose. AI is winning.
Workers are afraid that the large bet on AI by corporations and rich investors can only return the investment if labor and wages are cut drastically. The money has to come from somewhere. And it will most likely come from people’s paychecks or, worse, their jobs. Everyone is nervous.
If you take AI to its logical end, we may create an economy with a few rich people and corporations making everything, but no average person can afford to buy anything.
What you can do
Use AI as much as you can. Develop expertise in AI. Please use Claude, since Anthropic is the only company to acknowledge the employment problem. But at the same time, be careful when AI is replacing you. AI, the tool, should augment your skills, not replace them.
Learn about AI effects on jobs
Have a backup plan when your job is eliminated.
Consider a non-AI career like teaching. My backup plan is to teach, write, and retire.
And on a lighter note…
Attend community events
Write and lobby your politicians about AI
Spend more time in sports and arts.
Summary
AI has tremendous potential. As a tool, not a job replacer. Big corporations are making huge bets on cutting costs and jobs. We need to be promoting AI to improve society.
We have to be careful and aware. We need to keep our third eye open on AI and AI corporations. They do not act in society’s best interest.
We will also have to be more politically active regarding AI.
Notes:
We highly recommend Peter Atwater’s interview on (Bloomberg)
AI and Cancer
Right now, in 2026, AI has little benefit to society as a whole. Other than scaring the bejesus out of everyone. The most prominent use case for AI is some mythical pill that will cure cancer. Cancer is a leading cause of death in the US among older and richer people.
First, the AI industry is trading on people’s fear of cancer. It’s almost funny how every proponent of AI mentions cancer research as a benefit and little to nothing else. Cancer has a great fear factor.
Second, cancer is linked to a whole host of factors that AI cannot solve: genes, lifestyle, food, and environment. Cancer occurs over a lifetime and can probably not be solved with a pill. AI may actually make cancer worse if it deprives people of jobs and basic healthcare.