On the relevance of Maslow's need theory in the age of artificial intelligence

The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being felt in societies worldwide and is increasingly affecting all aspects of our daily lives. This paper discusses how AI can foster or hinder human well-being. In detail, we adopt Maslow's classic theory on human needs to take a human-centered focus and discuss how this theory can guide the creation and governance of AI systems promoting human well-being. In addition, the present work explores the concept of humanity and being human in the age of AI and the challenges humans may encounter in the next decades. • Maslow's classic work is applied to shed light on how AI can benefit humans. • The paper reflects about what it means to be human in the age of AI. • Challenges for reaching well-being in AI-societies are discussed.