AI and Society Speaker Series_Carl Benedikt Frey_13 October 2026

Is artificial intelligence fundamentally different from previous technological revolutions? What can history teach us about AI's impact on jobs, productivity and society? In this AI and Society Speaker Series webinar, Prof Carl Benedikt Frey from the University of Oxford draws on lessons from the Industrial Revolution, electrification and the computer age to explore how AI could reshape the future of work, economic growth and society. The discussion examines whether AI will replace jobs or transform how people work, why productivity gains may take longer than expected to materialise, and how public perceptions, trust and regulation could shape the adoption of new technologies. Key topics include: How AI compares with previous technological revolutions The impact of AI on jobs, skills and the future of work Why technological advances do not always translate into immediate productivity gains The importance of human expertise in verifying AI-generated outputs Public concerns about job displacement, inequality and economic insecurity Balancing innovation, regulation and responsible AI adoption The webinar is part of the AI and Society Speaker Series, jointly organised by the LRF Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk (IPUR) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Institute of Behavioural Science and Technology (IBST) at the University of St Gallen. The series brings together leading researchers and experts to explore how AI is reshaping risk, trust, decision-making and society.