Since the launch of the TCS study on AI and the future of work, the discussion has centered on the positive sentiment expressed by participants. Many have stated that it is refreshing to see a positive perspective among all the doom and gloom. By sheer coincidence, I was in the middle of reading a book titled The Conservative Futurist as we prepared to launch the study. I finished the book and have added it to my library.

If people found the study refreshing, they will love this book. Remember those sci-fi visions of a world brimming with technological marvels – flying cars, limitless energy, and spacefaring colonies? In “The Conservative Futurist,” James Pethokoukis argues that these visions were not only achievable but are still very much within reach.

Pethokoukis identifies a shift in the cultural landscape. America, once a beacon of optimistic futurism, seems to have grown wary of progress. Fear of job displacement by AI, environmental anxieties, and economic stagnation have replaced the can-do spirit.

The book traces this shift back to the “Great Downshift” of the late 20th century, a period of slowing economic growth and technological progress. Pethokoukis contends that this wasn’t inevitable, and that policies hindering innovation and free markets were partly to blame.

However, “The Conservative Futurist” isn’t just a lament. Pethokoukis delves into economics, history, and technology to craft a roadmap for a brighter future. He champions free-market principles and entrepreneurial capitalism as the engines of progress. The book explores the potential of areas like clean energy, automation, and space exploration, arguing that these advancements can usher in an era of prosperity and human flourishing.

Pethokoukis doesn’t shy away from potential challenges. Issues like income inequality and the responsible development of AI require attention. But the book’s core message is one of optimism – a belief that by embracing innovation and fostering a culture of opportunity, we can still achieve the fantastical future promised by science fiction. I highly recommend it.