Abstract
This debate paper discusses the widespread anxiety and polarized discourse surrounding generative artificial intelligence (AI), especially since the advent of large language models like ChatGPT. While the “Great Depression” shook the 1920-30s, the 2020-30s could be remembered as a time of intense worry and mania in an increasingly unpredictable world. By revisiting historical patterns of technological hype, I question if current AI developments signify a true paradigm shift or echo past cycles of boom and bust. Synthesizing expert insights from four diverse perspectives, the paper highlights themes such as AI's potential to disrupt or enhance labor markets, the importance of human-AI collaboration, and the necessity for proactive governance and ethical oversight. Concluding that AI's future impact is not predetermined but shaped by collective choice, the paper calls for multidisciplinary dialogue and responsible engagement to harness AI's benefits while mitigating its risks.
Recommended Citation
Ciriello, R. (In press). The Great Anxiety: Will AI Be Our Greatest Adversary, Assistant, or Just Another Annoyance?. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 55, pp-pp. Retrieved from https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol55/iss1/28
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