This book investigates the profound economic implications of Artificial Intelligence, questioning whether it will usher in an era of unprecedented prosperity or pose an existential threat. The authors, Nicola Dimitri, Thomas Gries, and Wim Naude, argue for a fundamental shift in economic modeling to accurately capture AI's impact. They propose incorporating AI's complementary and substitutive roles with labor, alongside demand-side constraints, to better understand its economic consequences. By examining the decision-theory basis common to both AI and economics, the book aims to provide tools for developing safe, human-centered AI.

The book offers a sober analysis of Artificial Intelligence's economic potential and risks, moving beyond speculative claims to a grounded economic perspective. It focuses on refining economic models to better account for AI's unique characteristics, such as its ability to complement or substitute for human labor. The authors emphasize the importance of demand-side constraints and the shared decision-theory foundations of AI and economics. This approach aims to provide practical tools for guiding AI development towards human-centered outcomes.