THE world is on the cusp of a revolution that could rival, if not surpass, the industrial revolution in its scale and impact: artificial intelligence (AI). While it may sound idealistic, even utopian, the rise of AI presents a unique opportunity to reshape human society in ways we have never imagined.

Once the genie is out of the bottle, there will be no going back. It’s time to consider what kind of relationship we want to have with AI and how we can ensure it benefits all of humanity, not just the powerful few.

For centuries, humanity has been driven by the pursuit of power, wealth, and dominance. We have created systems of inequality, built on the subjugation of the lower and middle classes, all under the guise of economic progress.

But what if we could break free from these age-old structures? What if AI could help us build a new world — one based on equity, co-operation, and the collective good?

In this idealised vision, AI would serve not as a tool of oppression or subjugation, but as a partner in advancing human potential. It could act as a global mediator, facilitating communication across borders, cultures, and languages.

Picture a worldwide social media platform powered by AI, offering real-time translations and ensuring that misinformation is exposed and corrected before it can spread. No more manipulation by state actors, no more bots driving division. People could engage in honest, meaningful conversations across the globe, breaking down racial, political, and cultural barriers.

But AI’s potential doesn’t stop there. Imagine a global economy where currency is decentralised, overseen not by corrupt institutions but by impartial AI systems that ensure fairness and stability. A system that prevents the manipulation of currency for personal gain and ensures the value of money is tied to real needs, not speculative bubbles or political agendas.

The AI could regulate global trade, allocating resources where they are needed most, not where the most profit can be made. Northern Europe could focus on agriculture, the Middle East on solar energy, and China on rare earth metals — all managed by an impartial AI to optimise distribution based on efficiency and need, not greed.

This, of course, may sound naive to many. After all, the history of human progress is fraught with examples of power being consolidated by the few at the expense of the many.

But this is precisely why AI holds such transformative potential. It has the ability to function without personal agendas and to apply the rules of fairness and equity without bias. In theory, AI could eliminate the very mechanisms that have led to centuries of exploitation.

Critics will argue that this vision is far too idealistic. The idea of a fair and just global economy, where wealth is redistributed, and power is decentralised, seems almost like a dream. But could it be any more unlikely than the dream of universal rights — or the belief that slavery could be abolished?

Just as society has evolved in the past, we are now at the precipice of an even more profound transformation. If the industrial revolution changed the very fabric of human existence, then AI promises to be the force that shapes the next great leap forward for humanity.

The reality is that AI is already here, and its capabilities are growing rapidly. We cannot afford to ignore its potential impact. We must decide now what role AI will play in our future.

Will it serve as another tool to further entrench inequality, used by the powerful to consolidate their control? Or will we work together to build a new social contract where AI is used to create a fairer, more equitable world for all?

AI is not the enemy; it is the tool that can help us build the world we’ve always dreamed of — a world free from exploitation, corruption, and inequality. But to realise that dream, we must approach it with both caution and ambition. If we do not make the right decisions now, we may find ourselves at the mercy of a technology we failed to control.