What if Artificial Intelligence Is Just a "Normal" Technology?
September 4th, 2025 — Opinions on artificial intelligence (AI) often span a wide spectrum, from utopian to dystopian visions. On one end, some see AI as a catalyst for runaway economic growth, transformative scientific breakthroughs, and even as a route to human immortality. On the other, there are fears that AI could lead to abrupt, large-scale job losses, economic upheaval, or worse, an existential threat to humanity itself.
However, a recent paper by Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor, computer scientists at Princeton University, challenges these extremes by proposing a more measured perspective: viewing AI as a “normal” technology. This sober approach treats artificial intelligence not as a unique or unprecedented force but as part of the continuum of technological revolutions that have shaped history.
Their work, published earlier this year, has sparked considerable discussion among AI researchers and economists alike. The suggestion is that the rise of AI may follow conventional patterns similar to previous innovations — from steam engines to electricity to the internet — which triggered profound but ultimately manageable social and economic changes.
This viewpoint encourages us to consider AI’s impact within the frameworks of established economic and technological theories. It calls for a focus on gradual adaptation rather than panicked responses. Historical analogies imply that while AI will indeed bring disruptions, these will likely be integrated into society over time through evolving markets, labor dynamics, and regulatory frameworks.
By framing AI as normal technology, Narayanan and Kapoor’s study invites policymakers, businesses, and the public to approach AI development and deployment with cautious pragmatism. Instead of oscillating between uncritical optimism and fearful skepticism, it may be wiser to prepare for a future where AI technologies become just another tool reshaping economies and everyday life in incremental, albeit significant, ways.
As the global conversation continues amid rapid advances in AI capabilities, this tempered perspective could help guide more balanced strategies aimed at maximizing benefits while mitigating risks. Though AI holds exceptional promise, viewing it through the lens of past technological revolutions provides a stabilizing narrative at a time of uncertainty about what the future holds.
This article appeared in the Finance & Economics section of the September 6th, 2025 print edition of The Economist under the headline "Normal People."
