Ex-Google Insider WARNS: "You Must Survive Until 2038"

Mo Gawdat’s View of the AI Race

Mo Gawdat argues that the race to build AI is driven by national and corporate incentives—such as economic growth, strategic advantage, control, and user engagement—rather than ethical principles. This makes responsible AI difficult to prioritize: companies that are more cautious or less focused on addiction may lose to competitors optimized for growth and attention, as has happened with social media platforms.

He sees the UK and much of Europe as falling behind in AI because of barriers to entrepreneurship and insufficient investment. He describes the US as more innovation-friendly and China as more willing to protect workers from AI-related job losses.

Gawdat warns that competition could intensify surveillance, concentrate power, and disrupt employment. He contrasts Anthropic’s reported refusal to support certain government surveillance uses with OpenAI’s reported deal to do so, urging people to consider which businesses they support with their money.

Public Pressure and Ethical Choices

Gawdat calls for public pressure and practical action rather than simply waiting for governments—which he believes are too influenced by powerful technology companies—to intervene. He suggests:

• Calling for independent ethical testing of AI models.
• Speaking publicly and contacting representatives.
• Supporting responsible businesses.
• Taking small steps to avoid participating in harmful practices.

Predictions and Outlook

Gawdat predicts that robots will increasingly replace manual labor by around 2030, that a trillionaire could emerge before then, and that artificial superintelligence could follow soon after general-level AI.

He anticipates a turbulent decade marked by job losses, conflict, surveillance, and concentrated power. However, he believes superintelligence could eventually bring abundance by displacing destructive human leadership. In his view, those who make it through to 2038 may experience that better future.

Advice for the Coming Years

Gawdat advises people to learn how to use AI effectively and work alongside AI agents, strengthen interpersonal skills, verify information rather than trusting AI or hype, and keep ethical considerations in view. He says he is optimistic about the long-term future, though not about the present.

Presenters and Contributors

• Guest: Mo Gawdat
• Host: Steven Bartlett