Published on Aug 05, 2025 The promise and peril of artificial intelligence: Lessons from Nobel Laureate Simon Johnson

MIT Science Policy Review spoke with economist and Nobel laureate Professor Simon Johnson about the pitfalls and promises of artificial intelligence (AI)- generated content, with a particular focus on research and academia. Prof. Johnson offered a nuanced perspective on AI-generated content, framing AI as a powerful tool, akin to past technological advancements, whose ultimate impact depends on human choices and intentional development. Simon Johnson is the Ronald A. Kurtz (1954) Professor of Entrepreneurship at the MIT Sloan School of Management, where he leads the Global Economics and Management group. He is also co-director of the Shaping the Future of Work Initiative and a Research Affiliate at Blueprint Labs at MIT. In 2024, Johnson, Daron Acemoglu, and James A. Robinson were jointly awarded the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel for their "studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity."