The social impact of generative LLM-based AI

Liking it or not, ready or not, we are likely to enter a new phase of human history in which artificial intelligence (AI) will dominate economic production and social life—the AI revolution. Before the actual arrival of the AI revolution, it is time for us to speculate on how AI will impact the social world. In this article, we focus on the social impact of generative LLM-based AI, discussing societal factors that contribute to its technological development and its potential roles in enhancing both between-country and within-country social inequality. There are good indications that the US and China will lead the field and will be the main competitors for domination of AI in the world. We conjecture that the AI revolution will likely give rise to a post-knowledge society in which knowledge per se will become less important than in today's world. Instead, individual relationships and social identity will become more important. So will soft skills, including the ability to utilize AI.