A partial list of (registered) participants
“Economy is an expression of its technologies”, as Brian Arthur once said. Historically, technology has fundamentally transformed human society and economy. And this time, the impact of AI could be more profound: while previous technological revolutions stemmed from human beings' successful leveraging and accumulation of external resources, AI can push beyond the limits of human physical and cognitive capacities, tapping into the endless strength of the physical world.
Yet another historical lesson is also clear: the adoption and penetration of general-purpose technology could vary dramatically across continents, countries, and sectors. This pattern is particularly relevant when we look at the current global landscape of AI embracement.
Thus, the real challenge is how to embrace AI more efficiently and inclusively, benefiting most people while reducing transformation costs. Considering the potential impact on labor, work, and organizations, developing the right “technologies” to embrace AI technology is of paramount importance.
To this end, this Frontier Dialogue will explore the following interrelated questions:
● First, what are the key lessons and logics, including both successes and costly mistakes, that we can learn from history regarding the translation of technology into widespread adoption that creates business and economic value? What are the implications of these lessons for AI adoption, and how can they help us better prepare for and embrace it?
● Second, what is special about AI and its penetration? What should we do more systematically and differently this time to realize effective adoption and penetration in business and economy?
● Third, why do some nations succeed in building AI capabilities while others lag behind? Regardless of wealth level, what are the key “technologies”, including technological and institutional infrastructure, policy frameworks and ecosystems, that different types of nations should develop to embrace AI technology?
Panel I keynote Presentations
Historical Lessons for Embracing AI Effectively: Translating Technology into Business and Economic Value
Speaker: Carlota Perez (UCL)
Carlota Perez is a thought leader and leading scholar of technological change and economic development, best known for her work on how major technological revolutions reshape economies and societies over the long run. She is Honorary Professor at University College London, and has served as a senior advisor to numerous governments, international organizations, and companies on innovation and industrial strategy. Her landmark book "Technological Revolutions and Financial Capital" is widely cited and highly influential, offering a powerful framework for understanding how societies transition from periods of technological turbulence to sustained and inclusive growth. Professor Perez will discuss how new technologies are translated into business and economic value, and what historical lessons from past technological revolutions can help us embrace AI more effectively and inclusively this time.
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Some General Considerations about AI and the Economy
Speaker: W. Brian Arthur (SFI)
As a leading economist and pioneer of complexity economics, Professor W. Brian Arthur is a founding member and external professor at the Santa Fe Institute. He is internationally recognized for developing the theory of increasing returns and for reshaping our understanding of technology, innovation, and economic dynamics. His widely celebrated book "The Nature of Technology“ has become a cornerstone in the field of technological evolution. Professor Arthur will offer insights into how AI, as a generative and combinatorial technology, transforms and re-creates the economy.
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What Makes AI Unique: A Technologist’s Perspective on Embracing AI Effectively and Inclusively
Speaker: Hongjiang Zhang (U.S. National Academy of Engineering)
Dr. Hongjiang Zhang is a Foreign Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and Venture Partner at Source Code Capital. He is a globally recognized leader in artificial intelligence and multimedia computing. He has held senior executive and scientific leadership roles across industry and academia, including serving as the Founding Chairman of the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence and as Managing Director of Microsoft Advanced Technology Center. Dr. Zhang will offer insights from a technology expert’s perspective on the nature of AI as a transformative technology, how AI differs from previous technological waves, and how it can be embraced more effectively and inclusively.
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Rethinking Business as Technology in the Age of AI
Speaker: Avi Goldfarb (UToronto)
Professor Avi Goldfarb is the Rotman Chair in AI and Healthcare and a Professor of Marketing at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. A leading scholar at the intersection of AI, economics, and business strategy, he also serves as Chief Data Scientist at the Creative Destruction Lab. In addition to his extensive academic work, he also co-authored the bestselling books "Prediction Machines" and "Power and Prediction", both of which explore the economics of AI. Professor Goldfarb will shed light on what makes AI special as a general-purpose technology, and how should we understand business itself as a form of technology, as well as how AI is redefining its underlying logic?
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Why Countries Diverge and What It Takes to Succeed in Developing and Embracing AI
Speaker: Diane Coyle (Cambridge)
Diane Coyle is the Bennett Professor of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge and the Research Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, President-Elect of the Royal Economic Society and a Member of UK Industrial Strategy Advisory Council. Her research focuses on productivity, the digital economy and AI policy. She has played a central role in shaping the U.K.’s and Europe’s approaches to AI governance, digital competition, and technology regulation, serving on numerous expert panels and advisory bodies. Professor Coyle will shed light on why some countries succeed in building strong AI capabilities while others fall behind, and what combinations of technologies, institutions, and policy frameworks are most essential for nations seeking to embrace AI effectively.
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Panel II Panel Discussion and Q&A
