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Tyler Cowen is the Holbert L. Harris Chair of Economics at George Mason University and serves as chairman and faculty director of the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. A dedicated writer and communicator of economic ideas, Tyler is the author of several bestselling books and is widely published in academic journals and the popular media. In this episode, Robinson and Tyler discuss the economics of artificial intelligence. More particularly, they touch on whether AI will destroy humanity, how it will affect employment, whether there will no longer be a place for art in the marketplace, and more. Tyler’s latest book is Talent: How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World (St. Martin’s Press, 2022).

Marginal Revolution: https://marginalrevolution.com

Tyler’s X: https://x.com/tylercowen

Talent: https://a.co/d/ftqNWcn

OUTLINE

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:09 Why Won’t AI Destroy Humanity?

00:06:39 Will AI Be Good or Bad for Employment?

00:08:20 On Optimism

00:10:10 It Isn’t Inevitable that AI Will Wipe Out Human Life

00:19:03 How to Align AI with Human Interests

00:24:40 Reid’s Interest in Friendship

00:32:13 Why AI Can’t be Our Friends

00:36:33 Could AI Replace Therapists?

00:45:18 Using AI to Cure Cancer

00:52:04 Will AI Extinguish Humanity with a Virus?

01:00:02 How Will AI Make Us More Powerful Agents?

01:07:06 Will Academia Be Revolutionized by AI?

01:15:10 Are You an AI Native?

01:17:36 How to Invest in AI

Robinson’s Website: http://robinsonerhardt.com

Robinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.