The race to dominate artificial intelligence has become one of the defining geopolitical competitions of our time. Nations are investing in infrastructure, energy, and computing power at a historic pace, convinced that technological leadership will shape the future global order. Yet amid this pursuit of progress, a fundamental question remains largely unanswered: Can a society become more productive while gradually reducing the role people play within it? The answer may determine whether the AI era is remembered as humanity’s greatest achievement—or its greatest test.
