Neither party has staked its claim on the issue that will drive the next presidential election cycle. Artificial intelligence is expected to transform the global economy at a staggering pace, radically restructuring almost every industry and bringing unprecedented disruptions to the labor market.
No one is willing to do anything about what could be the biggest issue of 2028. In a recent earnings call, xAI founder Elon Musk described an exciting era of abundance in which AI and robotics take over labor and Americans enjoy what he calls “universal high income.” But that vision raises more questions than it answers.
Where do people go when entire industries shrink? How do we fulfill our need for meaningful work? Who decides how this ‘universal high income’ should be distributed? What is the role of higher education? How much government do we need?
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As America approaches its 250th anniversary this summer, we celebrate the principles of individual freedom, free markets, and limited government that have driven our prosperity for more than two centuries. Are these principles compatible with Musk’s vision of a post-labor economy with universal income distribution?
The 2028 elections will both depend on AI and set the agenda for our future in how we deal with it. (iStock)
We need to come to terms with where this AI revolution may take us. In the world of politics, which tends to follow where the wind blows, what are the principles that remain timeless? Who do we trust to guide us through these uncertain waters?
The economic incentives are about to change dramatically. Will free-market Republicans be tempted to become protectionists? Will big-government progressives have to embrace deregulation and nuclear power to protect endangered industries?
I expect that every other issue will take a back seat to the looming questions affecting young and old, rich and poor. Traditional political views can be turned upside down. This is too important for us to misunderstand. We can’t just react reflexively.
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AI can offer Americans a generational opportunity to double down on the fundamental principles that have historically driven our prosperity. But we can expect strong headwinds that will push us to rethink the collectivist experiments that have consistently failed in the past.
The rules change. In the past you could protect your likeness, your works. We had patents, trademarks, borders. But now with deepfakes, generative AI, and apps that strip everyone naked at the touch of a button, we need to work together to establish a better framework of boundaries.
Both parties must come up with a vision to steer AI towards empowerment, promote independence and strengthen human potential rather than eroding it. Historical precedents suggest that technological progress, even if disruptive, ultimately creates more opportunity than it destroys.
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I’m hopeful that AI will create new roles that we can’t yet fully imagine, perhaps allowing workers to focus on strategic and creative roles that machines can’t replicate. AI doesn’t have to be the end of the job. It could be the start of better work.
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The economic incentives are about to change dramatically. Will free-market Republicans be tempted to become protectionists? Will big-government progressives have to embrace deregulation and nuclear power to protect endangered industries?
But in the process of getting from here to there, we face challenges that will test our resolve and the fundamental principles that underpin our past success. AI threatens to create the perfect opportunity for globalists to build the centrally planned economy they have always wanted.
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America is very good at using innovation to promote independence. If we approach this right, AI can enable us to innovate – to build a future where every American contributes on their own terms. We know that the government does not create jobs. Entrepreneurs do.
The key is not to resist, but to embrace AI as a tool that increases independence – freeing us up for meaningful pursuits such as family, community and invention. We can build a future where every American contributes on their terms. For 250 years, these principles have stood the test of time. Instead of resisting progress, we should direct it toward more productive use.
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