The Irish Times · 19 Sep, 06:09 · Artificial Intelligence briefing

Mark O'Connell: For 10 years I’ve listened to people say AI will kill us all. Here’s what I think

Mark O'Connell challenges the pervasive narrative that artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to humanity.

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Mark O'Connell challenges the pervasive narrative that artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to humanity. Drawing on a decade of observing public discourse, he argues that the fear-mongering surrounding AI has been overstated and largely unproductive. Rather than predicting doom, O'Connell advocates for a more nuanced understanding of the technology's actual capabilities and limitations. This perspective encourages professionals to move beyond speculative anxiety and focus on the practical realities of integrating AI into existing workflows, fostering a grounded approach to technological adoption.

Employer demand for AI Strategy skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
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Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
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