AI: The future cannot be planned, it must be created

Artificial intelligence (AI) promises increased productivity, more efficient public administration and new impetus for innovation. For a country with an industrial core, a strong export orientation and an ageing population, this is not just an opportunity – it is a test of readiness.

According to estimates by the European Commission and the OECD, AI could increase the GDP of developed countries by 5–15% over two decades. The International Monetary Fund also cites similar estimates in its reports, stating that the economic benefits of adopting AI in developed economies could be more than twice as high as in countries with lower readiness and technological access.

The benefits will be greatest where companies and institutions can make real use of AI: in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, education and administration. Thanks to its technical education and digitised industry, the Czech economy has the potential to ride this wave. But so far, we have been more of an observer than a driver.

The challenge is not just the technology itself. It is the ability to change. AI requires a re-evaluation of education, retraining and the functioning of public administration. Companies need not only data and software, but also people who understand what needs to be automated and what needs to be developed. And the state must create an environment that supports experimentation while addressing risks – from security to ethics.

Experience from the pandemic and the energy crisis shows that the Czech Republic is capable of responding when it is already too late. This time, we still have time. But it won't last forever. The countries that invest in AI today will set the rules tomorrow. The others will have to adapt to them.

However, AI is not just about economics. As Yuval Noah Harari's book Nexus points out, AI can strengthen democracy – but it can also undermine it. Without consistent regulation and education, it can erode public debate, blur the line between fact and fiction, and weaken trust in social institutions.