CHICAGO/WASHINGTON, DC - The start of 2024 has been marked by a wave of predictions regarding the trajectory of artificial intelligence (AI), ranging from optimistic to cautious. A clear consensus has definitely emerged, however: AI is rapidly reshaping the human experience, and to keep up humanity must evolve.

For anyone who has lived through the rise of the internet and social media, the ongoing AI revolution likely evokes a sense of déjà vu and raises two fundamental questions: Is it possible to maintain the current momentum without repeating the mistakes of the past? And can humanity create a world in which everyone, including the 2.6 billion people who remain offline, is able to thrive?

Harnessing AI to bring about an equitable and human-centered future requires new, inclusive forms of innovation. Three promising trends offer hope for the rest of 2024.

World elite

First, AI regulation remains a top global priority. From the European Union’s AI Act to United States President Joe Biden’s October 2023 executive order, proponents of responsible AI have responded to voluntary commitments from Big Tech firms with policy suggestions rooted in equity, justice, and democratic principles. The international community, led by the newly established