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Writing for The New York Times, Prof. David Autor and Prof. Gordon Hanson of Harvard explore how China is “aggressively contesting the innovative sectors where the United States has long been the unquestioned leader." To avoid a second China Shock, they emphasize that the United States “must nourish industries that have high potential for innovation, funded by joint investments by the private and public sectors.”
In his new book, “The Comedy of Computation: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Obsolescence,” Prof. Benjamin Mangrum explores how comedy can be a useful tool in a world “increasingly shaped by algorithms, automation, and artificial intelligence,” reports Ed Publica. “As we move deeper into an era of smart machines, digital identities, and algorithmic decision-making, Mangrum’s book reminds us that a well-placed joke might still be one of our most human responses,” they write.
In an opinion piece for Bloomberg, Gautam Mukunda PhD '10 highlights the importance of federally funded scientific research. “Today, the federal government’s best investment is scientific research,” writes Mukunda. “The Federal Reserve estimates that support for science has a 150% to 300% return. Few investors have a track record as good.”
Prof. David Autor speaks with ABC News reporter Max Zahn about how AI will affect the job market. "We're not good at predicting what the new work will be; we're good at predicting how current work will change," says Autor.
Prof. Anantha Chandrakasan speaks with The Boston Globe reporter Jon Chesto about his new role as provost and his goals for the Institute. “To be in the administration, you have to understand the perspectives of the individual faculty members, the students, and the post-docs,” he said. “I want to be in the trenches, not separated from the pack.”
Following his appointment as Institute provost, Prof. Anantha Chandrakasan has been honored at a celebratory event by the Foundation of Indian Americans of New England and the Indian Consulate of New York, reports News India. “As Provost, I am committed to advancing excellence in research, innovation, and education,” says Chandrakasan.
Prof. Anantha Chandrakasan was honored by the Indian American community in New England and the Consulate General of India in New York as he enters his new role as MIT provost, reports Abhinav Sharma for Diya TV. “I am deeply grateful for this honor,” says Chandrakasan. “The support from this community has played an integral role in my journey. As Provost, I am committed to advancing excellence in research, innovation, and education. Together, we will shape a future defined by meaningful progress and global impact.”
A new research paper by Prof. David Autor and Principal Research Scientist Neil Thompson explores the forthcoming impact of AI on jobs, reports Tim Harford for Financial Times. “[W]hile there are few certainties, Autor and Thompson’s framework does suggest a clarifying question: does AI look like it is going to do the most highly skilled part of your job or the low-skill rump that you’ve not been able to get rid of?,” writes Harford. “The answer to that question may help to predict whether your job is about to get more fun or more annoying — and whether your salary is likely to rise, or fall as your expert work is devalued like the expert work of the Luddites.”
Prof. Jonathan Gruber speaks with Newsweek reporter Jasmine Laws about the increase in cigarette taxes in various states across the United States. “There is a large body of economic evidence that shows that higher taxes will reduce smoking – particularly among the young and the poor,” says Gruber. “The downside is that the poor will pay more for cigarettes, stretching their budgets, but that is largely offset by the fact that they will smoke less. If the revenues are used to fund smoking cessation efforts among the poor, which have shown to be effective, this is a great policy opportunity."
American Kahan spotlights Prof. Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT’s chief innovation and strategy office and dean of MIT’s School of Engineering, who was recently named the Institute’s new provost. “As Chandrakasan prepares to guide MIT through this evolving landscape, he remains grounded in the principles that have shaped his career: excellence, innovation, and collaboration,” writes American Kahan.
The Press Trust of India spotlights how Anantha Chandrakasan, dean of the MIT School of Engineering and MIT’s chief innovation and strategy officer, has been named the Institute’s new provost. In announcing Chandrakasan’s new role, President Sally Kornbluth noted that he “brings to this post an exceptional record of shaping and leading important innovations for the Institute.”
Prof. Anantha Chandrakasan, MIT’s chief innovation and strategy officer and dean of MIT’s School of Engineering, has been named the Institute’s new provost, reports The Hindu. “As MIT’s chief academic officer, Prof. Chandrakasan will focus on three overarching priorities: understanding institutional needs and strategic financial planning, attracting and retaining top talent, and supporting cross-cutting research, education, and entrepreneurship programming.”
Prof. Daron Acemoglu speaks with Salon reporter Russell Payne to explain how “the calculations made by the current generation of AI are fundamentally different from how humans think.” Acemoglu explains: “The more talk of artificial super intelligence we have, the more of a boost these companies get, especially in terms of being able to raise funding, in terms of being in the spotlight and high status, high ability to convince others.”
Prof. David Autor speaks with Wired reporter Will Knight about the anticipated impact of AI on employment. “If demand for software were like demand for colonoscopies, no improvement in speed or reduction in costs would create a mad rush for the proctologist's office,” says Autor. “But if demand for software is like demand for taxi services, then we may see an Uber effect on coding: more people writing more code at lower prices, and lower wages.”
Prof. Daron Acemoglu, Prof. Peter Diamond and Prof. Simon Johnson are among the six Nobel laureate economists that warn the “massive budget bill passed by Housemakers last month… would weaken key safety-net programs while greatly lifting the federal debt,” reports Alain Sherter for CBS News. The economists also said that “large tax cuts under the legislation, combined with the hits to Medicaid and food stamps, would increase inequality,” writes Sherter.