In a recent opinion piece for El Diario de Hoy, economist Ian Vásquez pushes back against the wave of apocalyptic predictions surrounding artificial intelligence. He argues that many of the most alarming scenarios—AI systems turning against humanity or triggering civilizational collapse—sound more like science fiction than grounded forecasting.
Vásquez places today’s anxieties in historical context, noting that every major technological breakthrough, from the printing press to electricity to the internet, has initially been met with fear and skepticism. Critics worried these innovations would upend society, destroy jobs, or cause irreversible harm. In most cases, however, humanity adapted, and the technologies became tools that could be used for good or ill, depending on human choices rather than some inherent destructive nature.
According to Vásquez, artificial intelligence should be understood the same way: as a powerful tool whose consequences will be shaped by the people and institutions that deploy it, not by an inevitable, uncontrollable force. He suggests that framing AI purely as an existential threat distracts from more productive conversations about regulation, ethics, and responsible development.
Rather than succumbing to fear, Vásquez calls for a balanced, historically informed perspective on AI’s risks and benefits. Curious to see his full argument? You can read the original article on El Diario de Hoy’s website.
Source: ¿Acabará la IA con el mundo? (El Diario de Hoy).
Image: Brickset, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).