Erik Brynjolfsson

Erik Brynjolfsson is a professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and an international thought leader in the field of digital technology and artificial intelligence. He is the author of numerous books, including the recently released “The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies” which has become a world-wide bestseller. His research focuses on the economic, social, and strategic impact of digital technologies, tackling both the potential of these technologies to enhance human welfare and the risks posed by them.

Brynjolfsson’s interest in digital technology and artificial intelligence traces back to his university days in the late 1980s, where he studied economics at Brown University in the US. After completing his PhD at Stanford University in 1992, Brynjolfsson returned to academia, joining the faculty at the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1999. At MIT, Brynjolfsson has worked closely with other leading experts in the field of digital technology and artificial intelligence. His research aims to help people understand how digital technologies can shape the economy and our lives for the better.

In 2014, Brynjolfsson released his groundbreaking book, “The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies." This book, co-authored with Andrew McAfee, looks at how digital technologies are transforming the world economy. The book looks at the many opportunities and challenges posed by these new technologies, and the implications they have for the future of work, democracy, education, and the economy. Already widely acclaimed, the book was one of the top 10 books of 2014, as ranked by The New York Times.

Brynjolfsson further examines the impact of digital technologies in his new book, “Machine, Platform, Crowd: Harnessing Our Digital Future.” Co-authored with MIT's Andrew McAfee, this book studies the combination of forces known as the “Second Machine Age”—how artificial intelligence, robotics, the internet of things, and other digital advances are radically reshaping the global economy and society. The book outlines how companies and individuals can use these technologies to gain a competitive edge and ensure a prosperous future.

In addition to his research and publications, Brynjolfsson is a passionate speaker, and has presented at a range of business and technology events, from the World Economic Forum in Davos to SXSW in Austin. Following his successful book tour, Brynjolfsson was named one of the world’s 50 Greatest Leaders by Fortune Magazine, and has continued to give talks and writings on how we can make sure that the benefits of technology are spread to all of society, not just the elite few.

Brynjolfsson has been described as “the go-to person on the economic promise and peril of accelerated technological change” by Wired Magazine. His research continues to challenge conventional wisdom and offer bold new insights into how digital technologies can empower people and businesses, and shape the world for the better. As our lives continue to be transformed by digital technologies, Brynjolfsson’s work will remain essential for building a global economy that works for everyone.