It wasn't a philosopher or science fiction writer who raised the alarm. It was a decree from one of the most powerful banks in the world.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has poured cold water on the AI hype cycle, concluding that society may need to slow down the adoption of AI if it wants to remain sustainable.
His comments, which came at a time of growing concern about automation and social decay, “sparked a spark on dry grass,” particularly among technology leaders who are charging ahead at full speed.
At the heart of the debate is a simple, almost painful question: just because we can have artificial intelligence around us, does that mean we should?
Dimon fears that the pace of adoption of this technology will exceed the ability of workers, governments and institutions to respond, leading to possible job losses and even social unrest before safety nets are in place.
This sentiment is echoed at all levels of finance, where some executives acknowledge that AI is not just another software update but could be a force that transforms entire economies, as detailed in reports on these comments, first noted by The Guardian, among others, when it had a great time covering the debate on whether we will slow AI down to “save society.”
Not everyone agrees with this, of course. On the other side of the ring is Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang with a sunny opinion: He believes AI will actually create more jobs than it destroys, and will unlock productivity gains that “we have only just begun to imagine.”
He has previously stated that fears of mass unemployment are overblown, a claim that has been widely commented on as Nvidia's chips underpin the artificial intelligence boom, including in interviews highlighted by business outlets such as CNBC.
Yet Dimon's caution translates into something bigger than a boardroom squabble. Governments are clearly nervous.
European and Asian regulators are writing new rules, and economists warn the transition could be chaotic.
The OECD, for example, has warned that artificial intelligence could radically transform labor markets, particularly for white-collar jobs previously thought to be age-resistant, raising deep questions about reskilling and inequality that policymakers are only just beginning to grapple with.
What makes this moment stand out is the tone. This is not some abstract policy discussion. It's personal.
Its effects are tangible when a chatbot takes over the task of customer service or when software writes code that previously paid the rent of a junior developer.
Dimon's remarks are of great interest because he expresses the long-ratified view that social stability matters as much as innovation.
Slow down, put up barriers, take people with you – that's the essence. As reports from internal debates at large companies like OpenAI and Google show, this is a sentiment that even some tech insiders quietly share.
So where does this leave us? Probably somewhere uncomfortable. The AI train has left the station and no one will seriously deny that it is moving backwards.
But maybe, just maybe, he'll take his foot off the gas pedal. Dimon is not calling for a suspension of operations; He asks for a break.
And in a world where technology usually shouts “faster, faster”, a strong voice whispering “wait a minute” is sure to attract attention.
The real question is whether anyone hears could shape how the era of artificial intelligence is remembered.
