Deseret News: The stakes of the AI Era
The stakes of the AI era
By Matt Sandgren | Friday, March 6, 2026
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic idea — it’s already transforming medicine, finance, national security and how we consume information. Like the automobile in the early 20th century and the personal computer in the late 20th, AI promises sweeping gains in productivity and innovation. But unlike those earlier inventions, AI advances at digital speed, compressing decades of change into years.
Each month brings a new breakthrough: systems that draft legal briefs, analyze complex medical data, generate software code or synthesize vast amounts of information in seconds. Tasks that once took hours — or entire teams — can now be done almost instantly. The implications for economic growth and human creativity are profound.
At the same time, AI presents serious and undeniable risks. No one can say with certainty where this rapidly evolving technology will lead. Will it create more freedom and leisure, where much of daily life is automated so we have more time (and money) to pursue our personal interests? Or will it result in a Big Brother–style nightmare, where an AI surveillance state monitors everything we do, and people lose their jobs because AI has replaced human workers?
AI will improve many aspects of daily life, but it will also pose real challenges — particularly in sectors where routine or data-driven work can be automated. It will make finding and understanding information even easier. But it may also make it harder to distinguish truth from manipulation. For every benefit AI offers, there is a corresponding risk to manage. The challenge before policymakers, innovators and citizens alike is to navigate these competing forces so that this transformative technology ultimately improves life — just as the automobile and personal computer did in their time.
For that reason, the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation devoted its latest Policy Review to examining the challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. Featuring contributions from members of Congress and leading experts in medicine, finance, law and national security, the Policy Review explores AI from multiple professional and policy perspectives. Together, these essays address two central questions: How can the United States best prepare for the AI revolution? And how will artificial intelligence reshape our economy, institutions and daily lives?
Take medicine, for example. Most of us already use AI in simple ways to diagnose and treat health issues. When someone searches for “sore throat medicine” and reviews, they are relying on artificial intelligence. But more complex treatments, like cancer therapy or surgery, also involve AI. Yet the expertise, judgment and experience of physicians remain indispensable. As Dr. Alexander Ding and Dr. John Whyte explain in their Policy Review essay, “Physicians bring a front-line understanding of the clinical environment, patient needs, and the nuances of care that cannot be captured by data alone.” For that reason, physicians, developers, and regulators must work collaboratively to ensure that AI deployment in medicine strengthens — rather than supplants — patient-centered care.
AI applications are rapidly expanding across banking and insurance. In his essay, Professor Derek Horstmeyer of George Mason University examines how AI may transform both the Federal Reserve’s decision-making process and — just as importantly — its communication with the public. Every word in the Fed’s public statements is carefully selected. As AI agents become increasingly important consumers of Fed communications, the Fed will need to ensure these statements are crafted “to suit how AIs ingest information best without bias.” The insurance industry is likewise positioned to lead in AI adoption. As insurance executive Kevin Kalinich notes, insurers will shape how other sectors adopt AI by determining which risks are insurable — and what mitigation standards must be met.
The creative industries — music, television, film and publishing — face distinct challenges in the age of AI. An AI system might assist a screenwriter by generating ideas or refining narrative structure. Yet, as generative models become increasingly sophisticated, they may also compete directly with human creators. At the same time, many AI developers train their models on vast quantities of copyrighted material — often without compensating rights holders. In his Policy Review essay, Professor Michael Smith of Carnegie Mellon University argues that a robust licensing framework is essential to ensure that the creative ecosystem can “thrive alongside generative AI.”
Supreme Court litigator Adam Unikowsky, for his part, tells us (tongue in cheek) that he welcomes our new “Judicial Robot Overlords.” He observes that many core AI functions — distilling complex information into key points and generating structured explanations — closely resemble aspects of judicial decision-making. Of course, this doesn’t mean AI should replace judges. Rather, Unikowsky explores scenarios in which AI tools could improve the consistency, fairness and predictability of judicial outcomes.
National security is another central focus of the Policy Review, as highlighted by several members of Congress. Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio argues that unless the United States makes a sustained commitment to leadership in artificial intelligence, strategic competitors such as China will seize the advantage. Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming highlights the unique advantages rural communities offer in hosting and powering AI data infrastructure. Sen. Todd Young of Indiana outlines how AI-driven research could accelerate breakthroughs in biotechnology and advanced science. And Rep. Brett Guthrie of Kentucky offers a House perspective spanning issues from autonomous vehicles and defense infrastructure to online safety and digital resilience.
Artificial intelligence will shape every major sector of the economy and profoundly influence future generations. Few aspects of modern life will remain untouched by its influence. Harnessing this transformative technology requires a clear-eyed recognition of both its extraordinary potential and its genuine risks.
The AI revolution is already underway.
The question is not whether AI will transform our world — but whether we will shape that transformation wisely.
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Matt Sandgren is the executive director of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation and works at the intersection of public policy, law, and government affairs. He previously served for 15 years on Capitol Hill, including as senior counsel on the Senate Judiciary Committee and as Senator Orrin Hatch’s chief of staff.
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