Book Talk: AI for Good

The AESG hosted author Josh Tyrangiel for a conversation on his new book, AI for Good: How Real People Are Using Artificial Intelligence to Fix Things That Matter.

In AI for Good, Tyrangiel describes AI’s quiet revolution in education, healthcare, and government services — places where it’s being used to amplify human judgment rather than replace it. The book follows teachers, doctors, and bureaucrats who often stumbled into AI as a means to solve specific, tangible problems, often with no prior software expertise, highlighting lessons for everyone who’s interested in using AI to build a better world.

In conversation with AESG Director Melissa S. Kearney, Tyrangiel discussed the book’s themes and the implications for US economic policy.

Key takeaways from their conversation include:

1. AI adoption should be evolutionary. Tech companies are in constant competition with each other, creating a strong incentive to advertise their products as revolutionary. However, AI adoption works best when designed to enhance existing processes, rather than replace them outright.
2. AI use is most powerful when it augments, rather than replaces, human activity and judgment. Systems should be designed to allow individuals to incorporate their expertise to evaluate AI output. Keeping humans in the loop is essential to ensure accuracy and identify errors.
3. Industry experts must serve as “product managers” when AI is implemented. Friction often arises when the technology is implanted into organizations by technical AI experts who lack knowledge of internal systems and processes. Successful implementers are most likely to be internal champions who have deep knowledge of their field and are able to guide how the technology is applied.
4. Demand the version of AI you want. Individuals must decide for themselves which uses of AI they are comfortable with. Sitting out the debate entirely only allows for systems to be shaped by those with an incentive to promote growth.

Josh Tyrangiel is a staff writer for The Atlantic. He was previously the editor of Bloomberg Businessweek and chief content officer for Bloomberg Media. A twelve-time Emmy and Peabody Award–winning producer, he created Vice News Tonight on HBO and has produced numerous feature-length documentaries for HBO, Netflix, and Apple TV.