Harnessing Disruption

In this timely exploration of technological disruption, Sarah E. Kreps offers a measured account of the promises and risks of AI and other transformative technologies, providing a vital roadmap for navigating the tech future responsibly.In 2022, the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT marked a pivotal moment in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday life, achieving rapid global adoption and raising both excitement and alarm. As AI advances exponentially, it promises transformative benefits in fields like medicine, business, and education. However, it also stokes fears about job displacement, ethical concerns, and the potential rise of autonomous, uncontrollable machines. How do we decide when to act on technological risks, and why do some innovations trigger pushback while others spiral out of control?In Harnessing Disruption, Sarah E. Kreps demystifies the broader history of technological disruption--including nuclear weapons, cryptocurrency, AI, social media, and extraterrestrial space--to explore how society responds to the risks and rewards of transformative technologies. While some technologies are seamlessly integrated, others--such as nuclear energy or algorithmic decision-making--raise profound concerns about ethics, equity, and safety. Introducing a five-stage framework and drawing on historical and contemporary case studies, Kreps reveals how institutional readiness, market forces, and public pressure shape the trajectory of emerging technologies. She explores why some technologies stall under regulatory scrutiny while others accelerate unchecked, highlighting the dynamic interplay of law, policy, and market-driven self-regulation.At its heart, Harnessing Disruption argues that technology's future isn't inevitable or deterministic--it is shaped by human decisions, values, and institutions. By examining how we can better balance innovation with societal safeguards, this measured account offers a vital roadmap for policymakers, industry leaders, and individuals seeking to navigate an increasingly complex technological landscape.