How to Rebuild the Social Contract After AGI (with Deric Cheng)

How to Rebuild the Social Contract After AGI (with Deric Cheng)

January 27, 2026 · 1h 5m

About this episode

Deric Cheng discusses the implications of AI on the social contract and global economy, focusing on labor displacement and policy solutions.

Deric Cheng is Director of Research at the Windfall Trust. He joins the podcast to discuss how AI could reshape the social contract and global economy. The conversation examines labor displacement, superstar firms, and extreme wealth concentration, and asks how policy can keep workers empowered. We discuss resilient job types, new tax and welfare systems, global coordination, and a long-term vision where economic security is decoupled from work. LINKS: Deric Cheng personal website AGI Social Contract project site Guiding society through the AI economic transition CHAPTERS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:01) Introducing Derek and AGI (04:09) Automation, power, and inequality (08:55) Inequality, unrest, and time (13:46) Bridging futurists and economists (20:35) Future of work scenarios (27:22) Jobs resisting AI automation (36:57) Luxury, land, and inequality (43:32) Designing and testing solutions (51:23) Taxation in an AI economy (59:10) Envisioning a post-AGI society PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing SOCIAL LINKS: Website: https://podcast.futureoflife.org Twitter (FLI): https://x.com/FLI_org Twitter (Gus): https://x.com/gusdocker LinkedIn…

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Host: Future of Life Institute

Guest: Deric Cheng

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Organizations: Windfall Trust, AGI Social Contract project, Guiding society through the AI economic transition

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