For decades, a false narrative about artificial intelligence has taken hold, swinging wildly between apocalyptic dread and utopian fantasy. One side warns of mass unemployment and societal collapse, the other promises a life of effortless ease. Both miss a crucial point: the future of AI isn’t something that *happens* to America, it’s something we *build*.
AI isn’t a force of nature, it’s a tool. It won’t magically eliminate jobs; people will choose to use it to create or dismantle them. It won’t decide to oppress; people will design systems that either protect or erode our freedoms. The choices are ours, made every single day.
The past two decades have been spent alongside the individuals actually shaping this future – not just brilliant software engineers, but veterans, nurses, and skilled tradespeople. They don’t see AI as a looming threat, but as a powerful extension of their own capabilities, a means to a more secure and prosperous nation.
A common claim – that AI will steal jobs – is often a tactic to attract investment and consolidate power. The true potential lies in dramatically increasing the productivity of the American worker, unlocking their ingenuity and agency. This isn’t a hopeful prediction; it’s already happening.
Manufacturers are adding third shifts thanks to AI-driven efficiency. ICU nurses are leveraging AI to spend more crucial time at the bedside, focusing on what they do best: patient care. The real innovation isn’t happening in academic towers, but on factory floors and in hospitals.
For a century, American prosperity rested on a simple principle: increased productivity meant increased earnings for workers. That connection was broken, not by technology, but by deliberate policy choices. We must not repeat that mistake.
When AI doubles output, the worker wielding that power deserves a corresponding increase in their compensation, a stake in the enterprise. This isn’t about wealth redistribution; it’s about recognizing the worker as a co-creator of value, not simply a cost center.
Every American deserves access to the tools that empower them. Just as the printing press democratized knowledge, AI should be accessible to the electrician in Georgia and the farmer in North Dakota, not just those in Silicon Valley. It’s about leveling the playing field and unleashing potential.
AI is the product of American ingenuity and determination. No worker should be left behind due to a lack of training. Education should focus on empowering workers to *use* AI, not attempting to turn them into coders. The nurse needs AI to deliver better care, not to write algorithms.
The American worker isn’t lacking in ability; they’re simply underutilized. AI is the lever to unlock that potential. The insights of those on the front lines – the nurses, technicians, and coordinators – are invaluable and must shape policy.
Toyota’s success is built on the principle that the worker knows best, fostering a culture where ideas flow *up* from the factory floor. This simple approach has generated billions in value. Empowering the worker is not just good policy, it’s good business.
AI should streamline processes, not create new layers of bureaucracy. It should empower workers to move faster, not slow them down. Every unnecessary step between the worker and their job is a drag on productivity that must be eliminated.
AI development must prioritize American workers and industry. The goal isn’t abstract efficiency, it’s concrete American prosperity. While China’s manufacturing productivity grows at 6% annually, ours lags at 0.4%. Investing in AI is not just about innovation, it’s about national competitiveness.
The true leaders in this revolution aren’t seeking the spotlight. They’re quietly demonstrating what’s possible when powerful technology meets a capable workforce. They are building a future where American workers outproduce any competitor, creating prosperity for themselves and generations to come.
Silicon Valley builds the technology, Wall Street funds it, and Washington regulates it. But it’s the American worker – on the factory floor, in the hospital, in the field – who wields it. And that, ultimately, will make all the difference.
