Technological improvements and economic restructuring taking away jobs is nothing new and is not AI specific. Such creative destruction ultimately leads to a productive economy and better standards of living for all.

I do recognize however, that these net benefit is not equally distributed throughout society. Those who bear the brunt of the cost (unemployment) may not even get a shred of the payoff from improved productivity. Secondly, I do think that the potential scale of disruption from AI may be far greater than other occasions in history, and there may be extremely short term suffering on an unprecedented scale in the short term.

Hence, I do think that policymakers should seriously consider the ideas of universal basic income and enhanced social safety nets when the time comes.