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Reid Hoffmanthe co-founder of LinkedIn and prominent technology investor, presented an optimistic view of artificial intelligence on Tuesday, introducing his concept of “super agency” which views AI as a tool for human empowerment rather than a replacement.
Speaking at a TED AI conference fireside chat with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin in San Francisco, Hoffman discussed themes from his own upcoming book about super agencypositioning AI as the next frontier for improving human capabilities.
“If you look back at technology, it actually greatly expands human agency,” Hoffman says. “Each of these major technological leaps gives us superpowers.” He drew parallels between historical innovations such as horses and cars and current AI systems, which he characterized as ‘cognitive superpowers’.
AI Election Risks and Regulation: Silicon Valley Leader Pushes Back on Concerns
The timing of Hoffman’s messages seems strategic, right in the middle of time growing fear about the impact of AI on jobs and democracy. While acknowledging concerns about job losses and election misinformation, Hoffman maintained that the transition challenges are manageable.
On election integrity, Hoffman downplayed the immediate risks of AI-generated deepfakes in the 2024 race, though he acknowledged future concerns. “There is undoubtedly some use of AI crime and disinformation… but it has not yet had a significant impact,” he said, suggesting that technical solutions such as “encryption timestamps” could help authenticate content.
Hoffman also defended California Governor Gavin Newsom recent veto of sweeping AI regulation, instead praising the White House’s approach of seeking voluntary commitments from tech companies before implementing specific rules. “Having essentially vague, uncertain penalties and uncertain evaluations is a very good way to stifle the future development of emerging technology,” he argued.
Enterprise AI opportunities: where startups can still compete with big tech
For business leaders keeping an eye on developments in AI, Hoffman emphasized that despite the dominance of big tech companies in developing basic models, opportunities remain for startups that build applications on top of them. “There is a tremendous amount of AI available now,” he said, pointing to areas such as sales, marketing and computer security as fertile ground for innovation.
In particular, Hoffman saw AI as democratizing access to expertise, describing a future where anyone with a phone would have access to “the equivalent of a GP anywhere in the world.” This vision is in line with growing interest from the business community in AI Assistants and Automated Customer Service Solutions.
The political divide in Silicon Valley: Tech leaders are divided over AI policy and regulations
The discussion highlighted tensions in Silicon Valley’s political landscape, with Hoffman addressing what Boorstin characterized as a shift to the right among technology leaders. The conversation took a sharp turn when Hoffman appeared to criticize fellow tech leader Elon Musk’s support of Trump, without directly mentioning him by name.
Discussing the rightward shift of tech leaders, Hoffman questioned the motives of “some of the people who are campaigning and spreading some pretty wild conspiracy theories… not just on x.com but in other places as well.”
He suggested that such support may stem from ‘self-interest’, such as ‘winning government contracts’, rather than from genuine policy convictions. The veiled reference to Musk, who did millions pledged to Trump’s campaign and often messages pro-Trump content on its X platform highlights growing divisions among Silicon Valley’s elite over the upcoming election.
Hoffman, a prominent Democratic supporter and backer of Vice President Kamala Harrisattributed some of the broader right-wing movement to “single-issue voters around cryptocurrency” and business interests seeking favorable regulation. He emphasized that a “stable business environment in which you can invest is much more important” than pursuing narrow interests such as corporate tax cuts.
The future of work and the next chapter of AI
Hoffman’s vision suggests a fundamental shift in the way we should think about AI adoption. While much of Silicon Valley sees artificial intelligence as a replacement for human work, its “super agencyThe concept positions it as an amplifier of human potential.
“People who don’t use AI will be replaced by people who use AI,” Hoffman predicted, arguing that the real divide won’t be between humans and machines, but between those who embrace AI’s capabilities and those who don’t .
The stakes of this transition extend far beyond Silicon Valley. As AI’s capabilities expand, Hoffman’s optimistic vision will be tested against growing concerns about job displacement and technological control. But its core message is clear: the future belongs not to those who resist AI, but to those who learn to harness it as a tool for human empowerment – even if that means fundamentally rethinking what it means to be human to be in an AI-enabled world. .
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