The AI Awakening: Implications for the Economy and Society
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The AI Awakening: Implications for the Economy and Society
Instructor: Erik Brynjolfsson
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What you'll learn
Fundamentals of Generative AI
Impact of Generative AI on Business and the Economy
Potential Risks of GenAI and its Effects on Employment
Insights from Speakers from Google, OpenAI, Scale AI, and Other Top AI Companies
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There are 3 modules in this course
This course explores how the advances in artificial intelligence can and will transform our economy and society in the near future.
You will hear insights from esteemed AI researchers and industry leaders in technology, economics, and business. The curriculum addresses the technological underpinnings of Generative AI, its profound implications for businesses and the broader economy, and the potential risks associated with AI-driven transformations in the workforce. By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the foresight necessary to navigate the transformative landscape of AI. Notable guest speakers include Eric Schmidt (former CEO of Google), Laura Tyson (esteemed Berkeley professor and former Director of the National Economic Council), Bindu Reddy (CEO and Co-Founder - Abacus.AI), Alex Wang (Founder of Scale AI), Mira Murati (CTO of OpenAI), Jack Clark (Co-founder of Anthropic), and Mustafa Suleyman (Founder of Inflection.AI). They originally joined a conversation with Erik Brynjolfsson and Sebastian Thrun at Stanford University in Spring 2023, and we believe that their insights will be as valuable to your understanding as they were to the Stanford community. Special thanks to James da Costa for his work on the development of this course.
In this module, we will delve into the technological basics of generative AI, explore the recent progress shaping its current capabilities, examine the roles played by data and human input in model development, and experience live demos of Generative AI solutions. We will join conversations with Jack Clark (Co-founder of Anthropic), Mira Murati (CTO of OpenAI), and Alexandr Wang (Founder of Scale AI).
What's included
15 videos3 readings1 assignment
15 videos•Total 48 minutes
- Course Introduction•4 minutes
- Eric Schmidt: Introduction•1 minute
- The Pace of Innovation in Artificial Intelligence•3 minutes
- Jack Clark: Introduction•1 minute
- Recent AI Breakthroughs•5 minutes
- Artificial Intelligence vs Alien Intelligence•3 minutes
- LLM Demo•4 minutes
- Mira Murati: Introduction•1 minute
- What is Generative AI?•7 minutes
- The GPT Philosophy•7 minutes
- Chat GPT Demo•3 minutes
- Alexandr Wang: Introduction•1 minute
- The Role of Data•3 minutes
- Scaling Human Feedback•4 minutes
- Unknown Unknowns•3 minutes
3 readings•Total 40 minutes
- Welcome to the AI Awakening•10 minutes
- Dædalus. The Turing Trap: The Promise & Peril of Human-Like Artificial Intelligence. Erik Brynjolfsson.•15 minutes
- Dædalus. Language & coding creativity. Ermira Murati.•15 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
- Quiz: The Technology behind Generative AI•10 minutes
In this module, we will delve into the landscape of Generative AI startups. We will examine the business and economic implications of Generative AI by drawing insights from past automation lessons and contemplating the broader workforce effects, including shifts in employment dynamics and skill-based training. We will join conversations with Laura Tyson (a renowned Berkeley professor and former Director of the National Economic Council), and Bindu Reddy (the CEO and Co-Founder of Abacus.AI).
What's included
11 videos1 reading1 assignment
11 videos•Total 39 minutes
- Bindu Reddy - Introduction•1 minute
- Generative AI Startup Landscape•4 minutes
- Open Source vs Closed Source•5 minutes
- Generative AI in the Enterprise Context•3 minutes
- AI Agents•2 minutes
- Introduction to Laura Tyson•1 minute
- Lessons Learned from Previous Automation•3 minutes
- Generative AI and Labor•2 minutes
- Routine-Biased Technological Change on Steroids•9 minutes
- Economic Impacts of AI and the Future•4 minutes
- Unemployment•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 15 minutes
- Dædalus. Automation, AI & Work. Laura D'Andrea Tyson and John Zysman•15 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
- Quiz: The Implications of Generative AI for Business and the Economy•10 minutes
In this module, our focus will be to examine the potential risks associated with Generative AI for society, while simultaneously delving into the benefits it could bring into the world. We will consider a future where work may undergo significant transformation or even become obsolete. We will join conversations with Mustafa Suleyman (Founder of Inflection.AI) and Eric Schmidt (former CEO of Google).
What's included
10 videos1 reading1 assignment
10 videos•Total 30 minutes
- Mustafa Suleyman: Introduction•1 minute
- Initital Thoughts and Concerns•5 minutes
- Risks of Synthetic Media and Synthetic Biology•7 minutes
- Small Failures•3 minutes
- Mass Unemployment•4 minutes
- Optimism•3 minutes
- Capabilities Overhang•2 minutes
- Innovation Headache•4 minutes
- Excitement•2 minutes
- Course Conclusion•1 minute
1 reading•Total 15 minutes
- AI, Great Power Competition & National Security. Eric Schmidt•15 minutes
1 assignment•Total 10 minutes
- Quiz: The Risks of Generative AI and a World Without Work•10 minutes
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Reviewed on Sep 15, 2025
I loved this course, all the information is interesting and I learned different perspectives of AI that I haven't heard before :)
Reviewed on Sep 22, 2025
The course has interviews with AI leaders that makes it really interesting and easy to follow.
Reviewed on Jun 16, 2025
learning about AI and knowing how it help and implicate economy and society is a great
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