hat if we’ve been looking at regulating AI all wrong? Global agreements on ethics, bias, and safety are critical for humanity—but they’re notoriously slow and bureaucratic. By the time world leaders reach a consensus—if they ever do—the AI landscape will have already changed dramatically.
How can we take immediate action? It requires us to flip the script and rethink: What if AI isn’t stealing our jobs but companies are? This is not because companies are malicious, but because they’re doing exactly what they’re designed to do: maximizing efficiency and serving their shareholders.
This is where companies face a big dilemma. When AI makes automation cheaper and faster, companies would be irresponsible not to use it. Ignoring AI means falling behind. But widespread automation without a plan for workers leads to mass unemployment—a crisis governments are unprepared to handle. Instead of relying on governments to fund universal basic income—a financial impossibility—we need policies that encourage businesses to reinvest in workers.
This could start with Human–AI Integration Policies. For example, if a company is boosting productivity with AI or AI "super agents," they should simultaneously be investing in their people. That might include retraining employees for new roles or creating new roles for humans. Alternatively, companies would still have the option to automate without offering reskilling by contributing to a workforce transition fund through an Automation Tax. An additional opportunity could be requiring companies above a certain size and revenue to maintain a minimum number of human workers per unit of revenue to ensure that they’re not maximizing profit at the expense of mass layoffs.
We should absolutely continue working on solutions for regulating AI technology itself. But we can't forget: the most effective way to act now is by shaping how businesses integrate AI into their workforces. Economic growth and job stability are universal priorities, and smart policies can ensure AI–driven innovation doesn’t come at the cost of human livelihoods. By balancing efficiency with workforce sustainability, we can build an AI–powered future where all players thrive together. The choice isn’t between progress or protection—it’s about designing a system where we all succeed.
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Avoid real AI crisis with smart regulation for business
March 17, 2025
Regulating AI through global agreements is slow and bureaucratic. By the time consensus is reached, AI will have evolved. Instead, we must focus on corporate responsibility, writes Lisa Christen.
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hat if we’ve been looking at regulating AI all wrong? Global agreements on ethics, bias, and safety are critical for humanity—but they’re notoriously slow and bureaucratic. By the time world leaders reach a consensus—if they ever do—the AI landscape will have already changed dramatically.
How can we take immediate action? It requires us to flip the script and rethink: What if AI isn’t stealing our jobs but companies are? This is not because companies are malicious, but because they’re doing exactly what they’re designed to do: maximizing efficiency and serving their shareholders.
This is where companies face a big dilemma. When AI makes automation cheaper and faster, companies would be irresponsible not to use it. Ignoring AI means falling behind. But widespread automation without a plan for workers leads to mass unemployment—a crisis governments are unprepared to handle. Instead of relying on governments to fund universal basic income—a financial impossibility—we need policies that encourage businesses to reinvest in workers.
This could start with Human–AI Integration Policies. For example, if a company is boosting productivity with AI or AI "super agents," they should simultaneously be investing in their people. That might include retraining employees for new roles or creating new roles for humans. Alternatively, companies would still have the option to automate without offering reskilling by contributing to a workforce transition fund through an Automation Tax. An additional opportunity could be requiring companies above a certain size and revenue to maintain a minimum number of human workers per unit of revenue to ensure that they’re not maximizing profit at the expense of mass layoffs.
We should absolutely continue working on solutions for regulating AI technology itself. But we can't forget: the most effective way to act now is by shaping how businesses integrate AI into their workforces. Economic growth and job stability are universal priorities, and smart policies can ensure AI–driven innovation doesn’t come at the cost of human livelihoods. By balancing efficiency with workforce sustainability, we can build an AI–powered future where all players thrive together. The choice isn’t between progress or protection—it’s about designing a system where we all succeed.
